Much to the delight of archaeologists, it is common for structural renovations in major cities to uncover old buildings. Recently in Paris, workers working on expanding the city’s railway network discovered about 50 tombs on the site of an ancient necropolis. Interestingly, there are no reports that the necropolis was discovered during the successive reforms in the city’s infrastructure “Lutetia” the Roman name for Paris. O archaeological site It was found during work on a new exit at the PortRoyal train station.
Camille Colonna, anthropologist of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research of France (INRAP) said there was “strong suspicion” given the location that the archaeological site was the southern necropolis of Lutetia. The necropolis of Saint Jacques, the Roman city’s largest cemetery, was partially excavated during the archaeological craze of the 19th century. But only objects deemed valuable were removed from the site by archaeologists in Paris skeletons, grave goods and other artifacts were left behind. Covered by sediment, the necropolis fell into oblivion.
Archaeologists work at the site. Image/Thomas Samson/AFP
The INRAP team made unprecedented discoveries on the ground. Colonna said the archaeologists are “very fortunate” to have found a skeleton with a coin in its mouth from the second century AD. Archaeological work began in March and has already uncovered around 50 graves. Experts suspect that the remains belong to the Parisii, a Gaulish people who lived in the Lutetia region at the time of Roman rule.
Hades boatswain
In ancient times it was customary to put a coin in the mouth of the deceased. The practice goes back to Greek mythology, to Charon, the ferryman of Hades. The coin was a bribe to convince the ferryman to bring the souls of the dead across the River Styx. Archaeologists intend to remove all contents from the necropolis for study and preservation. “This will allow us to understand the life of the Parisii through their funeral rites, as well as their health through the study of their DNA,” Colonna concluded. Archaeologists in Paris hope to learn more about the city’s early residents.
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