In the southern French city of Bordeaux, archaeologists have uncovered nine sarcophagi estimated to be around 1,300 years old.
The discovery was made during archaeological excavations commissioned by the city hall as part of a planned renovation and greening project for Renouvel Square.
Preliminary analysis suggests that the sarcophagi date back to the Merovingian era and were buried sometime between the 5th and 8th centuries AD. In addition to these, archaeologists also found around 30 later burials from periods spanning the 11th to 17th centuries.
“In the Middle Ages, cemeteries were typically located near churches, so these are quite normal, ‘classic’ findings. We expected them, as the site is near the Church of the Holy Cross. However, we did not know the exact boundary of the cemetery,” explained Camille Vanof, the lead archaeologist on the project.
Excavations will intensify in the coming weeks, potentially leading to further discoveries.
Starting in the spring, the excavation site will be adapted to allow residents to visit and witness the scale of the findings firsthand.
