Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in Corbeil-Essonnes, Île-de-France, after excavating four rooms in the basement of a house. The operation was prompted by the accidental discovery of a skeleton during renovation work. The excavation uncovered 38 graves, dating back to the 3rd to 10th centuries AD.
The cemetery is older than previously thought, with the first burials dating back to the end of Antiquity. During this period, the deceased were buried in wooden structures placed in deep pits, lying on their backs. As the Middle Ages began, funerary practices evolved, and the dead were buried in plaster sarcophagi.
Ten sarcophagi were found in Corbeil, each containing a single body, unlike some other sites where multiple bodies are common. The sarcophagi were arranged in a “fan” shape, with one featuring an incomplete block of soft stone carved with a rosette, Latin cross, and cross inscribed in a circle.
The skeletons will be analyzed to determine the sex, age at death, and living conditions of the individuals. Specialists will also study the position of the bones and objects in the graves to understand burial practices.
Source: https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/09/man-discovered-a-skeleton-in-his-basement-and-found-38-late-antique-tombs-and-10-merovingian-sarcophagi/