EARLY ROMAN TOWN DEVELOPMENT IN GALLIA BELGICA: A REVIEW of SOME PROBLEMS

Summary: The conventional Claudian date for urban development in Gallia Belgica should be re-examined in the light of earlier occupation at some towns. Equally early were the rural sanctuaries, systematically developed as centres for the rural population. Monumental complexes such as the 'double-forum'may have evolved in the sanctuaries earlier than in the towns and possibly influenced the planning of the latter. Whilst the sanctuaries grew steadily throughout the first century, public building in the towns seem to have slowed down during its second half. A factor here may have been the enormous early development of the villas, especially in the Somme basin, diverting resources from urban building. the sanctuaries, more relevant to the rural population, were perhaps less affected.