Terrifying Discovery: Ancient Cemetery Unearthed Beneath French Man’s Home [Photos]

According to Saed News’ History and Culture Desk, a regional archaeology team has completed an extensive excavation of four basement rooms, uncovering 38 graves dating from the 3rd to the 10th century CE. These burials were scattered across the four rooms, with most arranged in parallel rows. In graves from the late Roman Empire period, the deceased were laid on their backs and interred in wooden coffins. While the wood of these coffins has since decayed, traces of their original shapes remain in the burial pits.

Additionally, ten plaster coffins from the Merovingian period (476–750 CE) were found arranged side by side in a fan-like formation. Unlike other plaster coffins discovered elsewhere, which often feature decorative outer walls, none of these ten coffins have ornamented sides. Only one coffin has a lid made of soft stone, etched with faint carvings. Although broken, the lid reveals part of a rose, a Latin cross, and a cross enclosed within a circle.

The existence of a medieval cemetery in this neighborhood has been known since the 19th century, when the first plaster coffins were discovered here. However, no formal excavations or scientific studies had been conducted since then. This marks the first comprehensive survey of the cemetery, revealing that it is far older than previously believed. All recovered remains have now been collected and sent to a laboratory for further study.