Théodore Vaquer, who uncovered masonry on the site during the construction of the Rue Monge between 1860 and 1869, extended his research to a 5,000 m² plot of land recently acquired by the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus for the construction of a depot. The discovery of the archaeological site did not prevent the construction of the street between 1877 and 1892. Victor Hugo, Victor Duruy and the Société des Amis des Arènes succeeded in saving the last southern third of the hemicycle, which was cleared after the demolition of the convent of the Daughters of Jesus Christ in 1883. The City Council voted the necessary funds to create a square, which was opened to the public in 1896. The site of the former depot was cleared in 1916, after the removal of the tramway lines and the construction of metro line 10. Doctor Capitan, assisted by Doctor Formugé, helped restore the site at the end of the First World War. A square dedicated to him now forms part of the abundant vegetation surrounding the ancient scene.
