Archeodunum Research Center archaeologists were called to a home in Corbeil-Essonnes, France during the winter of 2023-2024 after a homeowner discovered a skeleton in his basement, leading to a monthslong excavation and significant findings.
The homeowner’s discovery of a single skeleton was just the beginning of a major archaeological dig, uncovering a total of 38 burials spread across four rooms.
The presence of a medieval cemetery had been known due to previously discovered plaster sarcophagi from that period, which were believed to be connected to Notre-des-Champs chapel.
The chapel is thought to have been built in the 7th century on the site of a pagan temple, although no evidence of its construction has been found.
Before this excavation, the site had never been scientifically studied.
The excavation uncovered graves dating back much earlier than archaeologists anticipated, ranging from the 3rd century A.D. to the 10th century.
Funeral practices began to evolve during the early Middle Ages, with the deceased sometimes adorned with decorations, although those recently discovered were not.
While multiple individuals were sometimes interred in plaster sarcophagi, the 10 discovered in this dig each contained the remains of a single person.
During the Roman period, the deceased were laid on their backs in wooden enclosures.
Further analysis of the cemetery is ongoing, with specialists hoping to answer questions about the sex, age of death, and living conditions of the individuals whose remains were unearthed.
Additionally, specialists aim to understand the population of the area during Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as the evolution of funerary traditions over time.