Archaeologists have discovered 50 graves, in which the remains of men, women and children are believed to be Parisii people, of the Gaulois people (ancestors of today’s French people).
One of the ancient skeletons unearthed. (Source: AFP)
Just meters from a busy train station in central Paris, scientists have discovered 50 tombs in an ancient necropolis,
This discovery provides a rare glimpse into life in the city of Lutetia, the predecessor of today’s capital Paris, nearly 2,000 years ago.
This buried cemetery was not discovered despite extensive roadworks, as well as the construction of the Port-Royal terminal in the 1970s.
Anthropologist Camille Colonna at the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) said there were suspicions about a cemetery located near the southern necropolis of Lutetia.
The Saint Jacques necropolis, the largest burial site in the town of Lutetia, was previously partially excavated in the 1,800s.
However, only objects considered precious were removed from the graves, while many skeletons, burial offerings, and other artifacts were left behind.
INRAP’s excavation team found a skeleton with a coin in its mouth, allowing them to date the newly discovered necropolis to the 2nd century AD.
The excavation, which began in March, uncovered 50 graves, including the remains of men, women and children believed to be Parisii people, of the Gaulish people (ancestors of modern-day French people). now) lived in Lutetia since this city on both banks of the Seine River was under the rule of the Roman Empire.
The skeletons buried in wooden coffins can now only be identified by their fingernails.
More than half were buried with offerings such as ceramic vases and cups. Sometimes a coin was placed in the coffin or even in the mouth of the dead person, a common practice in that era, known as the coin of Charon.
Archaeologists also found shoes inside the tombs, identified by small nails located on the soles of the shoes.
Shoes are placed under the feet or next to the dead person like a burial item.
In addition, archaeologists also found jewelry, hairpins, and belts.
An intact skeleton of a pig and other animals was found and believed to have been sacrificed to the gods.
Unlike the excavation in the 1800s, this time the excavation team plans to collect all the items from this cemetery for analysis.
Archaeologist Colonna emphasized that this will allow learning about the lives of the Parisii through burial rituals.
Mr. Garcia emphasized that Paris’s ancient history is generally unknown and that the excavated tombs open up a new perspective on the city.
