Los arqueólogos del Inrap han desenterrado una pequeña necrópolis rural de finales del siglo V (antigüedad tardía) en Sainte-Marie-aux-Chênes, en el noreste de Francia.
La necrópolis, que se encuentra a lo largo de un camino antiguo, contiene los restos de las estructuras de cremación, así como varias inhumaciones ricamente decoradas. Lo más probable es que el cementerio esté relacionado con los restos de una antigua villa romana descubierta cerca hace más de una década.
En 2009, se descubrió material arqueológico durante un estudio del sitio antes de la construcción de una subdivisión. Los arqueólogos descubrieron los restos de la pars Rustica (los edificios de la granja) de una villa romana del siglo I y una aldea medieval ocupada hasta el siglo XII durante las dos temporadas de excavaciones que siguieron. En las ruinas de un granero romano se encontraron tres tumbas de la era merovingia (mediados de los siglos V-VIII) que contenían los restos de siete personas, todas de la misma familia.
In 2020, when the subdivision planned to grow toward the former Ida mine and factory, excavations started up again. Test pits discovered the first early Iron Age remains at the site attesting that the area was settled earlier than previously realized and a continuation of the Medieval hamlet into the valley. In addition, a cremation pit dating to the 1st century and a secondary filling from the Gallo-Roman period were also unearthed.
Photo: S. Viller Inrap In contrast to the 2009–10 digs, the 2020 excavation investigated the opposite side of the valley. Although the soil has been severely eroded, this has had the fortunate archaeological side-effect of accumulating sediment layers over the necropolis, aiding in the preservation of the remains.
About ten cremation structures were found by archaeologists after they dug through those layers. In meticulously carved quadrangular pits and much rougher round niches that appear to be postholes but aren’t, fragments of charred bone remains were discovered. There aren’t any cinerary urns left, and not much bone remains. Some nails, possibly from a coffin, and a square pit with a collection of blacksmithing equipment and forge remnants were discovered (tongs, metal scraps, slag).
Glass plate. Photo: L. Mocci, Inrap In the same area, ten Late Antiquity tombs were discovered. The pits were carefully dug in parallel rows. There was a single inhumed individual in supine position, adults of both sexes, and four confirmed young children in each grave. Hairpins and necklaces were used to identify two adult women. While no coffins or burial beds were discovered in the graves, iron nails and wood traces indicate that the bodies were buried in or on wooden biers.
The deceased were buried with a variety of grave goods. Ceramic vessels made of local Argonne clay were discovered at the bodies’ heads and/or feet. They are believed to have contained food offerings now long decomposed. High-quality and diverse glassware was also buried with the dead: cups, bottles, flasks, goblets, bowls, and dishes. The deceased was adorned with jewelry, mostly copper alloy pieces with beads, amber, and glass paste.
Photo: S. Gerard, Inrap There were coins in the graves as well, some individual, some in groups, most likely held in organic material purses. Last but not least, two bone combs and a miniature axe were discovered next to a child’s head.
Los restos recuperados de la excavación aún se están estudiando. Los investigadores esperan aprender más sobre el sexo, la edad y los registros de salud del difunto. La necrópolis en sí sigue siendo objeto de estudio para conocer más sobre su organización y uso, así como para arrojar luz sobre las prácticas funerarias de las personas que vivieron y murieron allí en la Antigüedad tardía.
Fuente: 2st.qirdar.com
