1st Dispatch from Provence

2,000 Roman Bridge and Neolithic Tool?

A Tool, a Bridge, and the Road to Rome

We found this curious stone in three pieces along the dry riverbed beneath Pont Julien, a Roman bridge that’s stood for over 2,000 years. With its rounded back and tapered end, the stone fits the hand like a chisel or pestle—maybe once used by someone who traveled this very route. Or perhaps it’s just a beautifully shaped gift from the river.

Try this as a 125 piece jigsaw puzzle

This spot was no ordinary crossing. The Julien Bridge carried the Via Domitia, one of the Roman Empire’s key roads connecting Italy to Spain. Imperial messengers, soldiers, and merchants all passed here—making the bridge not just a marvel of engineering, but a thread in the fabric of empire.

The central arch of the Julien Bridge spans over 16 meters and is one of the widest preserved from Roman Gaul. Its hollowed piers helped the river flow freely—keeping the bridge standing even during floods.