Namnetum

Namnetum is the name given in Latin sources to a prominent ancient settlement of the Namnetes, a Gallic tribe in Armorica (the western part of Gaul, roughly today’s Brittany and Pays de la Loire). The most widely accepted identification places Namnetum at the location of modern Nantes, at the mouth of the Loire River. In the late Iron Age and early Roman period, the site functioned as a major trading center and harbor on the Atlantic trade routes linking the interior Gaul to the coast.

During Roman rule, Namnetum developed into an urban center with Roman-era infrastructure; it appears in itineraries and inscriptions as a regional center of governance and commerce. It was connected to the broader network of Roman ports on the Atlantic coast, with some sources referring to Namnetum as a harbor area or port in its own right. The town likely received municipium status at some point, with a degree of self-government under the Roman Empire.

The details of its urban layout and exact chronology remain subjects of ongoing archaeological research, with finds including pottery, coins, and structural remains near Nantes. The name Namnetum derives from the Namnetes, and the site is generally regarded as the precursor of the medieval and modern city of Nantes. The identification is supported by historical geography and limited material evidence, though some aspects remain debated.