Merovingian and Carolingian burial sites discovered near Paris

[Adsos Letter]

Source: MedievalNews



A team of French archaeo-anthropologists have discovered two burial sites dating from the Early Middle Ages in Noisy-le-Grand, a suburb of Paris. The discovery was made earlier this year.

The first site, Merovingian (5th-6th centuries) consisting of almost 300 graves, is characterised by plaster sarcophagi, the dead adorned with bead necklaces, ear-rings, brooches and plate buckles (belt). The sarcophagi, orientated east-west, are grouped by family and community.

The second one, Carolingian (8th-10th centuries) is marked by a change in funerary practices, where the bodies are unadorned, wrapped in a shroud and buried directly in the earth. It is believed these changes were due to restrictions by the Catholic church.

Noisy-le-Grand is first mentioned in the History of the Franks, by Gregory of Tours at the end of the 6th century AD, in which he mentions a "royal villa" and an oratory for prayer.

http://medievalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/merovingian-and-carolingian-burial.html

[tabatha]

1. Gosh, you have been digging for archaeological news.

Great finds - thanks.

[kimi]

2. Never heard of Medievalnews before

but it's great! Thanks so much for posting and informing!

[johnfunk]

3. Finally -- someone is getting medieval on Paris!

Very cool!

[roguevalley]

4. Ah, the Merovingian. A matrix moment. :)