A Merovingian necropolis, featuring 59 sarcophagi and several funerary structures dating from the 5th to 7th centuries AD, has been discovered near the Sainte-Croix church in Bordeaux, France. The excavation, which began a year ago and is led by Laurent Guyard of the Bordeaux-Métropole archaeological service, is taking place on a 2,700-square-meter site slated for redevelopment into green spaces.
The Sainte-Croix Abbey was founded in the Merovingian period, a few hundred meters from the Roman city's center. The cemetery evolved over centuries, eventually becoming a parish cemetery in the 18th century. The unearthed tombs offer insights into the city's early religious and burial practices.
In addition to the sarcophagi, archaeologists found white stone wall structures, likely belonging to the medieval abbey's cloister. The remains are well-preserved, buried between 30 centimeters and 1.8 meters below street level. The necropolis is open to the public every Wednesday until the end of May 2025. Excavations will continue until the summer of 2026, after which the area will be covered for public use. This discovery sheds light on early medieval life and death in Bordeaux and the long-term urban and religious function of the area.