 Puy Redon/Lacroix and Puy de Dôme seen from the Col de Ceyssat around 1885. | |
  Shown within France | |
| Location | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Arverni (current Puy-de-Dôme) |
| Coordinates | 45°45′48″N 2°57′20″E / 45.76333°N 2.95556°E |
| Length | 1,000-1,150 m |
| Area | 10-15 ha |
| History | |
| Periods | La Tène finale; Early Empire (1st- 3rd century) |
The Roman settlement of the Col de Ceyssat is a modest Roman town situated between 1,000 and 1,150 meters in altitude, at the base of the Puy de Dôme and its sanctuary dedicated to Mercury. The settlement is located in the center of the territory of the Arverni city, in Aquitaine Gaul, approximately ten kilometers from its capital, Augustonemetum/Clermont-Ferrand.
The site of the col itself was occupied as early as the end of the protohistory period, although the nature of this occupation remains unknown. The foundation of the secondary Roman settlement dates back to the first century AD. The settlement was structured by the Agrippa road between Lugdunum (Lyon) and Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes), covering between ten and fifteen hectares. It comprised four recognized sectors. The roadside station, situated at the col and close to the Agrippa road, represents the central nucleus of the settlement. While regulating the flow of travelers and pilgrims wishing to climb the Puy de Dôme to access the summit sanctuary of Mercury, its function probably was to provide lodging, food, and shops to travelers from all directions. The northern part of the site, which marks the point of departure for the ascent of the sacred mountain, features a cult area where a sanctuary once stood. This has been discerned through surveys and the ceramic study has confirmed its existence. In contrast, the funerary zone, situated in the southeast of the cult sector, encompasses one of the most substantial funeral pyres in Gaul, as revealed by archaeological excavation. The lower quarter, situated approximately 400 meters west of the col and adjacent to the Agrippa road, represents the final sector of the settlement. Its abandonment, which occurred after the mid-third century, remains a subject of historical inquiry.
Similar to the other territories of the Chaîne des Puys, the Col de Ceyssat has undergone significant reforestation efforts since the late 19th century. Despite the challenging terrain and limited accessibility, archaeological knowledge of the ancient settlement has primarily been shaped by systematic archaeological operations, surveys, and pedestrian prospections conducted under the guidance of Frédéric Trément from the University of Clermont-Ferrand. Additionally, some rescue archaeology surveys, associated with land development projects, have provided insights into the ancient town on an intermittent basis.