Le Rhône : batellerie et commerce dans l'Antiquité

Abstract

The main Rhône-Saône axis suggests that road and waterborne transport were complementary since the upstream navigability was difficult for the last one. But lack of available sources, the real importance of the water route and the evolution cannot be measured. Pictures and boat remains are few and we still don't know much about ancient installations along the rive. Nevertheless, the Rhône route is connected to the mediterranean trade, and inland water transport is noticeable compared to the circulation of goods, particularly those from the valley which was an access to the outland trade (wine, salt, cereals, wool from Crau). For other products, terracottas and freestone, market is restricted to a regional context which has benefit from the river, in particular for heavy goods necessary to urban development of sites along the banks. Up to the 3rd century, inscriptions, reliefs, building programmes and finds add up in showing that the water route played an active part. Its socio-economic organization known from epigraphic evidence, hinges around Arles (the function of which is of old-standing) and Lyon which no doubt is influent on a wider extent. But the Lyon based trade doesn't last into the 4th century while the traffic of goods go on, upstream the Rhône and the Saône, from the mediterranean to the Rhine banks, Arles is entitled to become the direct gateway to Treves although Vienne capital of Narbonensis secunda, could take advantage of the decline of its neighbour.