It is certainly one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the capital since the 19th century! Nearly 50 very old burials have been discovered, at the level of the crossing of the avenue de l'Observatoire and the boulevard de Port-Royal. These preventive archaeological excavations took place as part of a construction project for the Port-Royal station, on the RER B, which is to have a new exit. These tombs, dated from the 2nd century AD, are part of the largest Gallo-Roman necropolis in Lutetia! A real treasure that lived under our feet, in the heart of the 14th arrondissement.
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These exceptional remains, found by archaeologists from the Institut de recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap), are only a tiny part of the Saint-Jacques necropolis, a place reserved for the dead, far from where the inhabitants of Lutetia used to live. It was located at the southern exit of the city, on more than four hectares. It is an impressive discovery, since no one had ever managed to find new remains since the 19th century. Camille Colonna, head of operations on the dig and anthropologist, describes to Sciences et Avenir the enthusiasm of his team, when they"found three tombs, including one with a deceased person who still had a Roman coin in his mouth".
And it is a small miracle if these 200 m2 of men, women and children's graves still exist, considering the works undertaken in the capital these last decades, in particular for the arrival of the RER B. Small pieces of furniture were also discovered, ceramic or glass objects, traces of shoes... which will be studied closely in the next two years. In the meantime, the RATP construction site has obviously been postponed until the excavation is completed, on April 28, 2023!
Where can you see the remains of Lutetia, the Paris of antiquity?
Before Paris, there was Lutetia. During Antiquity, the capital was part of the Roman Empire, and some of its remains are still visible today... if you know where to look! Here's where to discover the ruins of Lutetia in Paris. [Read more]
Where can you see the remains of Lutetia, the Paris of antiquity?
