In a basement renovation project, a homeowner near Paris unexpectedly discovered a skeleton. This discovery led to the excavation of a cemetery containing dozens of graves, some dating back as far as 1,700 years, to the Roman era.
The existence of these graves, which predate the Middle Ages, is surprising, according to a statement from the French archaeological company Archaeodunum, which is conducting the excavations on behalf of the local authorities.
Ancient graves found in the basement of a home in the southern suburbs of Paris, believed to have been built on a medieval chapel. (Photo: Archaeodunum).
Medieval Chapel
Medieval graves had been found previously, but there were no traces of a chapel or temple. This is the first time the cemetery of the chapel has been studied.
Although this basement features several protruding rock outcroppings, most of the graves are arranged in parallel rows. The deceased from the Roman era were buried lying on their backs in areas that had long since rotted away. However, ten individuals from the Merovingian graves were buried in specially made stone coffins, arranged side by side in a fan shape.
One coffin was originally covered with a stone slab, now in fragments, which appears to have two crosses engraved on its surface. Archaeologists noted that such patterns were very common on Merovingian coffins, as well as on Christian worship spaces during this period.
Ancient Burial Practices
The age of the oldest graves indicates that people were buried at this site long before the medieval chapel was constructed there. The skeletons in the graves will be analyzed in the laboratory. Archaeologists hope to determine the sex and age of those buried, as well as any signs of their living conditions, such as their health at the time of death and their general diet.
Archaeologists are hopeful that this burial site will provide insights into the population living near this location during the Late Antiquity and Middle Ages, as well as how their funeral practices changed over time.
