Aire-sur-l'Adour No. 1 / Le Mas-d'Aire

Described in Corblet (1881-1882) as "restes d'un baptistère carré dans lequel on descend par trois degrés"; Corblet adds that there is a a square hole chiseled out at the lower step, through which the water of the baptistery drained onto the neighbouring hill. The three steps mentioned in Corblet match the usual construction of Early Christian basins. [cf. also Index entry for Aire-sur-Adour No. 2 for the Gallo-Roman stoup] [NB: some other sources mention the presence of a a Merovingian sarcophagus in the crypt. Is this the same object? - to be resolved on site: On-site notes: there are a number of sarcgophagi in the crypt; the one of St. Quiteria is not the "baptistère" noted in Corblet]. On-site notes: not seen during our visit; the present font in use is modern, made of red-and-white marble; it consists of a shallow round basin with a centre drain and no lining, raised on a round pedestal base and a round-to-square lower base; it is 104.5 cm tall.