French archaeologists unearth Roman burials beneath medieval garden

Near Troyes, France, archaeologists discovered three Roman burials containing glass vessels, an amphora, and ceramic items.

The graves, located in the commune of La Rivière-de-Corps, date to the late third or early fourth century. Researchers found the remains of a woman, a young man, and another adult whose sex could not be determined due to the condition of the skeleton. The proximity of the graves suggests a possible family connection between the individuals, though this remains unconfirmed.

The archaeologists also found well-preserved grave goods, including cylindrical glass vials near one person’s head and a locally produced amphora at the feet of another. They believe the glass containers may have held perfumes or drinks for use in Roman burial rituals, and analysis of any residue could confirm this. The amphora indicates the use of local products for transporting wine, oil, and salted goods. The site revealed more than just the burials.

Archaeologists identified around 300 post-built structures covering 1200 square meters, along with tiles and remnants of a Roman underfloor heating system, suggesting a residential area existed nearby. Later, during the medieval period, people dug earth shelters, grain pits, and wells on the same land, and between the 17th and 18th centuries, they created a garden with fruit trees and a vineyard.