A necropolis unveiled at the foot of the basilica of Saint-Denis

The basilica was built from 1137, on the site of a church of the V^e century surrounded by a necropolis. Here, a burial of the X^e-XII^e century in the northern side of the western massif. Emmanuelle JACQUOT/Department of Seine-Saint-Denis.

DECRYPTION – More than 200 burials were discovered during the archaeological excavations carried out before the reconstruction work on the north tower.

The wind rushes into the north tower of the basilica of Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis). The April sun shines outside, but archaeologists work here in the cold. An almost ideal temperature for preserving the dead, even if those discovered here no longer need to be preserved.

Stone and plaster sarcophagi are intertwined, while the skeletons they contain are revealed. ” In fifteen days we will have everything removed, explains Cyrille Le Forestier, anthropologist at the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap). Archeology is a bit of a science of destruction. The goal is to preserve these exceptional discoveries by studying them off site. »

Read alsoIn Saint-Denis, the basilica has its stained glass windows back

This excavation site is a unique opportunity, offered to archaeologists from Inrap and the archaeological services of the city and the department, to study the basements of the basilica. This will allow them to better understand the context that has seen the rise of this…

This article is for subscribers only. You have 88% left to discover.

Want to read more?

Unlock all items immediately.

Already subscribed? Login