Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Science»Ancient necropolis unearthed just feet away from bustling Paris train
    Science

    Ancient necropolis unearthed just feet away from bustling Paris train

    By AdminMay 2, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Ancient necropolis unearthed just feet away from bustling Paris train

    As is commonly observed in ancient burial sites, the graves were packed closely together and frequently overlapped. (Image credit: Camille Colonna, Inrap)

    A forgotten necropolis packed with 50 graves has been discovered near a bustling train station in central Paris by archeologists excavating the site ahead of construction work. 

    Thousands of commuters have been unknowingly treading the ground just 10 feet (3 meters) above the 2,000-year-old graves, which belong to the largest known burial site in what was the Gallo-Roman town of Lutetia. The ancient town spread across 10 acres (4 hectares) in its heyday and sat on the banks of the Seine River, where Notre Dame Cathedral stands today, according to the French Ministry of Culture (opens in new tab).

    The site, known as the “Saint James necropolis,” was located in the south of Lutetia and sprawled along one of its main thoroughfares, the Roman-built cardo maximus. Archeologists estimate that the site was used as a burial ground between the first and third centuries A.D., before it was abandoned in the fourth century.

    At least one skeleton had a coin in its mouth, which is an ancient ritual intended to pay a bribe to the ferryman of the underworld in Greek mythology. (Image credit: Nicolas Warmé, Inrap)

    The site, known as the “Saint James necropolis,” was located in the south of Lutetia and sprawled along one of its main thoroughfares, the Roman-built cardo maximus. Archeologists estimate that the site was used as a burial ground between the first and third centuries A.D., before it was abandoned in the fourth century.

    “Overall, the ancient history of Paris is poorly understood,” Dominique Garcia (opens in new tab), president of France’s National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), told France 24 (opens in new tab). “We will be able to carry out DNA studies thanks to the bones that we were able to find, so we’re getting closer to a better understanding of the population of Paris in Antiquity.”

    Archeologists unearthed the remains of men, women and children, who they think belonged to a Gallic tribe called the Parisii that the French capital is named for. Among the bones, the archaeologists discovered various glass and ceramic artifacts, as well as jewelry and scattered coins that enabled them to date the burials to the second century.

    Related: 40 tombs with humans buried in pots discovered in Corsica

    Archeologists discovered the graves while undertaking excavations ahead of construction work in the Port-Royal train station. (Image credit: Camille Colonna, Inrap)

    The excavation, which began in March, revealed at least one skeleton with a coin in its mouth, pointing to an ancient funerary practice known as “Charon’s obol.” In Greek mythology, Charon ferried the souls of the dead across the Styx River and into the underworld in exchange for a bribe, which is why people buried coins alongside bodies, according to an INRAP statement (opens in new tab).

    Not all the graves contained human skeletons: One pit seemed reserved for burial offerings and contained the remains of a pig and another, smaller animal. The researchers have removed all the remains and artifacts from the site for analysis.

    “Understanding all the steps of burials and funeral rites allows us to better understand the society of the Parisii,” Camille Colonna, an archeologist at the INRAP, told France 24.

    When they began excavations ahead of planned construction work in the Port-Royal train station, the archeologists had “strong suspicions” they were close to the ancient Saint-Jacques necropolis, Colonna said in a press conference.

    Parts of the burial site were discovered and dated in the 1800s, when the city underwent major building works, but scientists at the time didn’t explore the site any further. In the 1970s, rail construction projects destroyed areas of the necropolis and left others untouched, such as the newly unearthed site, according to the INRAP statement.

    The newly unearthed area covers 2,150 square feet (200 square meters) and reveals that the necropolis stretched further to the west than previously thought. “No one has seen it since antiquity,” Garcia said in the press conference.

    The researchers found no evidence to suggest that the bodies had been cremated before burial, which would have been a common practice at the time, according to the statement. However, they did find traces of wood and nails indicating the use of coffins that have since decayed. Notably, Colonna said that the remains of shoes “either at the feet of the dead or next to them, like an offering,” means that the dead were buried in their clothes.

    The discovery opens “a window into the world of Paris during antiquity,” Garcia said.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Bering Land Bridge emerged much later than we thought it did, new study finds

    October 1, 2025

    We finally know why a belly button becomes an ‘innie’

    October 1, 2025

    Plant receptors for nitrogen-fixing bacteria evolved independently at least three times, study reveals

    September 30, 2025

    Ancient Egyptian statue of ‘Messi’ found at Saqqara necropolis is ‘only known example of its kind from the Old Kingdom’

    September 30, 2025

    Our brain ‘swivels’ to focus on sounds from different directions

    September 29, 2025

    Typhoon Bualoi batters Vietnam coast, killing 11

    September 29, 2025
    popular posts

    Summary, Spoilers + Review: The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

    Bob Dylan’s Publisher Admits $600 Books Had Replica Autographs

    NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Launching Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 to Explore Cosmic Evolution

    The £22 Fake Tan Margot Robbie and Sienna Miller Use

    The 1975 Share Video for New Song “All I Need

    Beau is Afraid Poster Shows Four Different Forms of Joaquin

    Summary, Spoilers + Review: Never Lie by Freida McFadden

    Categories
    • Books (3,444)
    • Cover Story (8)
    • Events (19)
    • Fashion (2,545)
    • Interviews (45)
    • Movies (2,744)
    • Music (3,028)
    • News (161)
    • Politics (6)
    • Science (4,594)
    • Technology (2,739)
    • Television (3,469)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT