A Lutèce necropolis rediscovered in Paris in the basements of Port-Royal

2023-04-19 19:36:50

The passers-by in a hurry on the avenue de l’Observatoire do not suspect that under their feet lie meters of Gallo-Roman ruins. At the crossroads between the 5^e et 14^e arrondissements of the capital, a necropolis of Lutetia from the II^e century was unearthed by archaeologists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap). Commissioned by the State, they have been excavating the basement since the end of February, before it was dug to create a new exit for users of the Port-Royal station of the RER B.

And the results gave reason for this caution: 50 burials were discovered about three meters deep, in addition to ceramic or glass containers, furniture and objects related to clothing. These bodies of men, women and children were all buried in coffins, “perishable containers whose traces of boards are sometimes still visible and the nails are still present”indicates Inrap.

Graves dating from the 2nd century AD

A skeleton, found with a coin in the mouth, a common tradition in Antiquity which was to allow the deceased to pay the ferryman of the underworld, Charon, notably made it possible to date the necropolis to the II^e century, period of the High Roman Empire.

The spaces devoted to the dead and the living were then very distinct, and Lutèce had several necropolises located on the outskirts of the city. Excavations at Port-Royal have uncovered part of the largest of them, known as the “southern necropolis”. By a happy coincidence, the site had not been damaged by the road works of the 1970s. “For a place on the edge of the RER, it is miraculously preserved”rejoices Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux, chief curator of heritage, at the regional archeology service of the regional directorate of cultural affairs (Drac) of Île-de-France.

A “miraculously preserved” site

The necropolis was already known to scientists since the 19th^e century, since it had been partially analyzed during the major Parisian works carried out at the time. ” But at the time, we were more in search of the beautiful object, we did not attach too much importance to the people buried “, explains Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux.

But its magnitude is a surprise. “There was a strong presumption of his presence in the Port-Royal sector, but we thought that we were at its limits, she continues. However, given the number of graves found, we can now be sure that the necropolis continues on the other side of the boulevard.. « At the height of the Roman city, it occupied a considerable space of about 4 hectares “, completes Inrap in a press release published on April 19.

DNA samples from the skeletons

Scientific research does not stop at excavations. Anthropologists will now study the organization and orientation of the graves, and DNA samples will be taken from the skeletons to analyze possible kinship ties and pathologies.

Excavations are due to be completed by the end of the month and the graves will be kept in state storage. The furniture could be brought to the Carnavalet museum, “ but all this is still to be decided “, tempers Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux.