The Archaeological Museum of Toulouse begins a new life
During the summer of 2021, the Toulouse Archaeological Museum received several objects from the various excavations of the Château Narbonnais. Laure Barthet, curator and director, details the different episodes.
In a bright room close to the Toulouse Archaeological Museum (Saint-Raymond Museum) closed until January 4, 2022, several boxes contain objects handled with care. In August 2021, this museum received collections from the Regional Archaeological Service, resulting from the various excavations carried out by the INRAP (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research) under the direction of Jean Catalo. No less than 200 boxes of furniture, containing a brick engraved with a strange fish, sidewalk tiles, objects from the Louis XV period, pieces of ceramic …
A piece of furniture extracted during the various phases of excavation, from 2000 to 2006, from the Château Narbonnais (former Parliament of Toulouse), now the Toulouse courthouse. In the basement of this emblematic site of the Counts of Toulouse, a Carolingian necropolis from the 8th century and its thousands of remains…, chief curator of heritage and director of the Toulouse Archaeological Museum. We also isolate the more fragile or those who represent a particular interest to bring together an exhibition ”. These objects relating to several centuries of the city are based on the fact that this museum has evolved with the times. Not content to live on its 19th century collections and Roman statues acquired in the 1950s. “In the years 1990-2000, this museum began a large partnership with the State,” recalls Laure Barthet. This moment coincides with the professionalization of preventive archeology and the emergence of the INRAP which, by decision of the State, allows archaeologists to ensure the scientific study of the remains likely to be destroyed for the development ”.
A very long transfer of goods
In 2016, an agreement was also signed between the City of Toulouse, the Metropolis and the State to make this Toulouse museum the depository site for all archaeological property in Toulouse and in the department. Like the Château Narbonnais and its excavations. This conservative admits: “French legislation is long for the transfer of property. The excavations of the Narbonnais Castle have reactivated the procedure, even if we must deplore that this museum, major in France for archeology, has only an area of 1000 m2 of exhibition, that is to say only 3% of objects presented to the museum. Public “.