Ancient tannery uncovered in Toulouse
04/11/2013
They were not expecting to find the brick circular tanks, some of which still bear traces of lime, a sloping corridor to the Garonne and four square trays, the remnants of an industry that ceased more than 200 years ago.
Peter Pisani, head of the archaeological department of Toulouse Métropole museum, said: "Until 1783, there had been a lot of crafts here along the Garonne, including dye works and tanneries. You can imagine 50 men working in difficult conditions on animal skins, in tanks, in contact with lime. It could not have been pleasant!”
The construction of the Esplanade Saint-Pierre was stopped for a week to let specialists search and photograph the area.
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