The year 2024 was once again a prosperous period for French archaeology, offering our country the discovery of numerous treasures from our rich national history. These finds, the fruit of months, even years of relentless research, allow us to deepen our understanding of the religious, military and political aspects of our past. Thus, it is a part of our roots and our identity that has been restored to us thanks to the meticulous and passionate work of many archaeologists.
Religious and funerary heritage
Like the excavations carried out at Notre-Dame de Paris since its fire, which have allowed us to better understand the history of the cathedral and some of its former occupants, many other excavation sites have been undertaken in 2024 around and in French churches, thus revealing many mysteries. Among these discoveries, the probable tomb of Saint Lubin, first bishop of Chartres, who died around 557, attracted the attention of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP). Indeed, the final resting place of this bishop was perhaps found during excavations at the Saint-Martin-au-Val church, which took place on June 19. Other tombs, belonging to more modest French people, have also been found in medieval or Gallo-Roman cemeteries, as recently in Rezé in Loire-Atlantique or in Bourg-Charente, in the ancient Poitou-Charentes region. 2024 also marked a success for archaeologists working on the ruins of the ancient Beaumont Abbey in Tours. Indeed, INRAP scientists and historians are pleased to have been able to excavate the entire site in a single campaign. According to Philippe Blanchard, scientific manager of the operation: “ This is the first time in Europe that the entire space of an abbey, including the gardens, has been excavated in one go. ».
The remains of battles and wars
Certain excavations also make it possible to discover more recent sites, often forgotten in our military history. This is the case, for example, of the discovery last May of a former American hospital in Savenay, in Loire-Atlantique, established by Uncle Sam's troops after their arrival in Saint-Nazaire in 1917. other places linked to older conflicts have also been brought to light, such as the site of the battle of the Pont du Feneau on the Île de Ré. This 1628 clash between the English and the French, until then little documented, was able to be identified thanks to in-depth research. If funding allows, this site could even benefit from more in-depth archaeological excavations in 2025.
Sites intended to remain mysterious
Some discoveries from 2024 also concern very old sites, still under study, as their age and mystery make their interpretation difficult. This is the case of the Mézières excavation site, near Villedieu-sur-Indre, where the remains of 53 horses dating from the Gallic Wars were discovered. The origin and meaning of the death of these animals remain unclear and are still the subject of speculation, as our knowledge of Gallic culture remains incomplete. Indeed, the latter was not a written civilization but an oral one, and the rare information we have comes from Roman testimonies or those after the conquest by Rome.
Faced with these uncertainties, archaeologists demonstrate humility and sometimes let future generations, armed with more advanced technologies and more advanced knowledge, answer these still unanswered questions. It is for this reason that certain sites, particularly prehistoric sites, are reburied in order to preserve them. Future prospecting techniques will undoubtedly make it possible to study these sites in greater depth without altering the buried artifacts or compromising the historical truth they contain.
Thus, these discoveries remind us of the importance of archaeological research in the construction of our collective memory and underline the humility as well as the effectiveness of researchers in the face of mysteries still buried. Archeology in France remains an essential bridge between the past and the future, allowing each generation of French people to better understand their roots and the importance of preserving our heritage.
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