In Autun, in the Morvan, excavation in progress of a stone sarcophagus • INRAP / SERVICE DE PRESSE In Saône-et-Loire, Autun, the ancient Augustodunum, is an important witness to the emergence of Christianity in Gaul. It was there, near the early Christian church of Saint-Pierre-l'Estrier, that the oldest mention of Christ known in France was discovered in 1839:the inscription known as "de Pectorios", engraved in Greek on a marble tablet dating from the IV th century. Today, still in the same area, before the construction of a private house, archaeologists were able to excavate a plot of 1,346 m 2 and uncover a vast necropolis with 200 tombs and 6 mausoleums, some of which were still visible in the 18 th century. One of them – but it is not known which one, and it may still be underground – houses the remains of the first bishop of Autun, Amator. The necropolis, which therefore dates from the end of the Roman era, is located at a pivotal time between Antiquity and the Middle Ages, at the beginnings of Christianity. The coffins are very varied, some in wood and others in lead, which is rare in the northern half of France. They sometimes bear cruciform signs that are difficult to interpret. The graves measure from 50 cm to 1.80 m, and no associated objects have been found there. It is possible that the deceased were buried in destitution, according to the precepts of the Christian religion. Expectations and disappointments “We know from historiography that Christian notables are buried here, but for the moment we cannot distinguish their tombs from pagan tombs,” explain the archaeologists of Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research). A stone sarcophagus, which seemed hermetic for 1,500 years, was opened at the end of the excavation campaign. The researchers hoped that it would deliver better preserved remains, but it only contained a skeleton:the earth had infiltrated it, forming a very fine mud, of which environmental analyzes will provide information. Founded by Emperor Augustus, the city of Autun was an influential administrative, economic and political centre. Its famous school of rhetoric attracted students from all over the Roman Empire. During Antiquity, it was one of the most important cities of Gaul. The excavation finished, the necropolis was buried again. We will have to wait for the results of the laboratory analyzes to find out more about its former occupants.
