Renovation leads to discovery of ancient tombs in France

Independent features that a fascinating archaeological discovery has emerged from a basement renovation in a southern suburb of Paris, where a French man uncovered dozens of medieval skeletons along with ten sarcophagi.

A Frenchman renovating his basement stumbled upon dozens of medieval skeletons and ten sarcophagi. Archaeologists believe these remains, found in a southern suburb of Paris, could enhance understanding of the region's population during the early Middle Ages and the preceding Antiquity era.

The presence of an early medieval cemetery in the area was already known, and past excavations had revealed several plaster sarcophagi characteristic of later medieval periods. Archaeologists examined a 52-square-metre section of the man’s cellar, noting that the burials were arranged in parallel rows, a practice that persisted for seven centuries, from the 3rd to the 10th centuries AD.

The recent excavation indicated that the cemetery may be older than previously believed, with some burials dating back to late Antiquity over 1,500 years ago. By around 500 AD, burial practices had shifted, with bodies interred in plaster sarcophagi, a common trend in Île-de-France, where tomb exteriors were often decorated. 

However, in this cellar, none of the sarcophagi displayed decorations. Researchers from Archeodunum, an archaeological center supporting the Regional Archaeology Service, noted that each sarcophagus contained a single individual, which is less common than finding multiple remains, and they were arranged side by side in a fan-like formation. 

The tombs lacked distinctive markings, except for one that featured a block of carved soft stone on top. Archaeologists noted they were uncertain about the original shape of the block. “We can see part of a rosette on one side, while the other side shows a Latin cross and a cross inscribed within a circle,” they explained.

“These designs are commonly found on plaster sarcophagi and relate to funerary themes, as well as decorative elements seen on Christian places of worship.” The researchers expressed hope to analyze the skeletons in the lab to ascertain the sex, age at death, and living conditions of the individuals. They believe that further studies could enhance understanding of the population that inhabited the area during Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as the evolution of burial traditions throughout these periods.

By Naila Huseynova