A French man renovating his basement made a remarkable discovery of dozens of medieval skeletons and 10 sarcophagi in a southern suburb of Paris. Archaeologists believe that these findings could provide valuable insights into the population that inhabited the region during the early Middle Ages and the pre-Antiquity era.
The existence of an early medieval cemetery in the area was already known from previous excavations that revealed several plaster sarcophagi typical of later medieval periods. The recent excavation, covering an area of 52 square metres in the man’s cellar, unveiled burials arranged in parallel rows spanning seven centuries, from the 3rd to the 10th centuries AD.
Surprisingly, the latest findings suggest that the cemetery dates back even further, with the first burials traced back to late Antiquity over 1,500 years ago. By the onset of the Middle Ages around 500 AD, burial practices had evolved, with bodies now being interred in plaster sarcophagi, a common practice in Île-de-France where tombs were occasionally adorned with decorations.
In this cellar, archaeologists found undecorated sarcophagi, each containing a single individual, contrary to the more frequent discovery of multiple burials. The sarcophagi were positioned side by side in a fan-like pattern, and one was topped with a block of finely cut and carved soft stone, the original shape of which remains uncertain.
Further analysis in the laboratory of the skeletons is anticipated to provide insights into the sex, age at death, and living conditions of the deceased individuals. Scientists hope that these studies will not only enhance understanding of the population that resided in the area during Antiquity and the Middle Ages but also shed light on the evolution of funeral traditions during these epochs.