Orange’s Antique Theatre: Ongoing Research on Medieval and Modern Woods

Ongoing research at the UNESCO-listed Roman Theatre of Orange reveals that 511 wooden elements, previously hidden within stone blocks, were integral to the structure and its medieval and modern adaptations. Radiocarbon dating of these woods has uncovered undocumented phases of development in the 13th, 15th, and 16th centuries, shedding light on periods poorly recorded in historical texts. The study employed a collaborative protocol integrating restoration work with archaeological analysis, while dendrochronological methods yielded no dates, suggesting complex timber sourcing from diverse environments. Future research will leverage Historic Building Information Modelling to further explore the theatre's adaptive reuse and preservation.

Shindo, L., Borel-Dubourg, S., Cenzon-Salvayre, C., & Badie, A. (2025). Orange’s Antique Theatre: Ongoing Research on Medieval and Modern Woods. International Journal of Wood Culture, 5(1-3), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.1163/27723194-bja10046