Saint-Philibert Church in Dijon, France, is revealing centuries of history as archaeologists excavate up to three metres below its floor to assess the health of its foundations. The work, led by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), has uncovered layers of burials, architectural remains, and sarcophagi that span from late antiquity to the modern era. This investigation offers fresh insights into the history and evolution of this medieval site.
The Romanesque church, located near Saint-Bénigne Cathedral, was founded in the late 12th century and has undergone several modifications over the centuries. These include the construction of a 15th-century porch, later rebuilt in the 17th century, and the addition of a 16th-century bell tower and 18th-century side chapels.
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However, the church’s history has also been marked by significant damage. In the 18th and 19th centuries, salt storage weakened its foundations, a problem exacerbated in the 1970s by the installation of a heated concrete slab. The slab trapped salt in the ground, causing it to rise into the church’s piers and split the stones, damage that continues to this day despite multiple repair efforts.
As part of the excavation, archaeologists have uncovered burial sites within the church. In the nave, they found wooden coffins dating from the 14th to 18th centuries, arranged in east-west alignments. These graves primarily contained adults wrapped in shrouds, accompanied by minimal grave goods such as coins and rosaries. In the transept, a vaulted burial site from the 15th–16th centuries was discovered, containing the remains of children and adults whose bones had been moved aside over time to make room for new burials. Beneath this vault, earlier stone slab tombs dating to the 11th–13th centuries were uncovered, adding another layer of history to the site.
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The excavation has also revealed traces of churches that predate the current structure. Walls built in the opus spicatum (fishbone) style suggest the northwest corner of a church that may have been constructed in the 10th century, making it the earliest documented phase of construction at Saint-Philibert. These findings build on earlier discoveries, including an 11th-century apse unearthed in 1923, surrounded by tombs linked to that period.
Among the most remarkable discoveries are six sarcophagi uncovered beneath the floor of a church dating to the year 1000. Two of these sarcophagi are from the Merovingian period (6th–8th centuries), while the others, including one with a sculpted lid, date to late antiquity. These sarcophagi appear to have been housed within one or more buildings that existed between the end of the Roman Empire and the Early Middle Ages, shedding light on the site’s importance during this transitional period.
The exploration of Saint-Philibert Church offers an extraordinary opportunity to uncover the layers of history beneath Dijon. From its late antique origins to its role as a Romanesque church, this site continues to reveal its secrets, illuminating the deep and complex history of the region.
Saint-Philibert Church in Dijon, France, is revealing centuries of history as archaeologists excavate up to three metres below its floor to assess the health of its foundations. The work, led by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), has uncovered layers of burials, architectural remains, and sarcophagi that span from late antiquity to the modern era. This investigation offers fresh insights into the history and evolution of this medieval site.
The Romanesque church, located near Saint-Bénigne Cathedral, was founded in the late 12th century and has undergone several modifications over the centuries. These include the construction of a 15th-century porch, later rebuilt in the 17th century, and the addition of a 16th-century bell tower and 18th-century side chapels.
However, the church’s history has also been marked by significant damage. In the 18th and 19th centuries, salt storage weakened its foundations, a problem exacerbated in the 1970s by the installation of a heated concrete slab. The slab trapped salt in the ground, causing it to rise into the church’s piers and split the stones, damage that continues to this day despite multiple repair efforts.
As part of the excavation, archaeologists have uncovered burial sites within the church. In the nave, they found wooden coffins dating from the 14th to 18th centuries, arranged in east-west alignments. These graves primarily contained adults wrapped in shrouds, accompanied by minimal grave goods such as coins and rosaries. In the transept, a vaulted burial site from the 15th–16th centuries was discovered, containing the remains of children and adults whose bones had been moved aside over time to make room for new burials. Beneath this vault, earlier stone slab tombs dating to the 11th–13th centuries were uncovered, adding another layer of history to the site.
The excavation has also revealed traces of churches that predate the current structure. Walls built in the opus spicatum (fishbone) style suggest the northwest corner of a church that may have been constructed in the 10th century, making it the earliest documented phase of construction at Saint-Philibert. These findings build on earlier discoveries, including an 11th-century apse unearthed in 1923, surrounded by tombs linked to that period.
Among the most remarkable discoveries are six sarcophagi uncovered beneath the floor of a church dating to the year 1000. Two of these sarcophagi are from the Merovingian period (6th–8th centuries), while the others, including one with a sculpted lid, date to late antiquity. These sarcophagi appear to have been housed within one or more buildings that existed between the end of the Roman Empire and the Early Middle Ages, shedding light on the site’s importance during this transitional period.
The exploration of Saint-Philibert Church offers an extraordinary opportunity to uncover the layers of history beneath Dijon. From its late antique origins to its role as a Romanesque church, this site continues to reveal its secrets, illuminating the deep and complex history of the region.
Top Image: Drone view of the first survey at the foot of a pile of the nave of the church. © Christophe Fouquin, Inrap
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