The 2000-year-old remains of a child from a wealthy family and their dog were discovered by archaeologists in France.
The baby, estimated to be one year old, was found in Aulnat in the Auvergne region of central France by a team investigating a planned expansion of the airport.
The remains date back to the first century AD, when France is said to have been under Roman rule.
They were accompanied by numerous objects – including clay pots, animal parts and a small toy – as well as a puppy with a decorative collar.
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The 2,000-year-old remains of a baby, estimated to be about a year old, were found in Aulnat in the Auvergne region of central France. The body was surrounded by an abundance of animal sacrifices and objects, suggesting that they had a high social status
“Such an abundance of crockery and butchered objects, as well as the personal effects that followed the child to his grave, underscore the privileged rank to which his family belonged,” said the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
This grave was discovered in December as part of preventive excavations carried out by INRAP before construction at Clermont-Ferrand airport.
Evidence of a wooden box was uncovered in the grave, surrounded by animal sacrifices, including half a pig, several pieces of pork, and two headless chickens.
Twenty terracotta vases and various glass jars in the tomb may contain medicines, cosmetics or the children’s part of the funeral banquet, while researchers believe a foot-long iron hoop attached to a curved metal bar was a toy or part of a game .
Archaeologists discovered the cemetery while surveying the area for a planned expansion at Clermont-Ferrand Airport
Half a pig, several cuts of pork and two headless chickens were found buried with the body. The skeleton of a dog with a decorated collar was located at the base of the child’s coffin
A baby tooth from an older child was also found, possibly from an older sibling.
A puppy’s skeleton was found on what would have been the base of the box, with a collar with bronze decorations and a bell.
A map showing where the remains were located. Since November, archaeological investigations near Clermont-Ferrand airport have uncovered objects from the Iron Age, High Middle Ages and other eras
“A dog’s association with a young child is well documented in a burial context, but here it is the collar and bell that are unusual,” said archaeologists.
They call the discovery ‘exceptional’ and believe it to be the oldest children’s cemetery discovered in France.
It dates back to the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) or Tiberius (14-37 AD), just decades after the birth of Jesus.
In the Roman era in Gaul – present-day France, Belgium and parts of West Germany – adults are said to have been cremated, but children were often buried in family areas.
Chief archaeologist Laurence Lautier said the large number of sacrifices buried with the child was unusual.
About twenty terracotta vases and glass jars were found. They are believed to contain cosmetics, medicines or the part of the funeral feast of the deceased
The child is said to have lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) or Tiberius (14-37 AD), just decades after the birth of Jesus
In the Roman era in Gaul – present-day France, Belgium and parts of West Germany – adults are said to have been cremated, but children were often buried on family property
“In this type of tomb we often find one or two pots at the base,” Lautier told AFP. ‘There are about twenty here and a lot of food on offer.’
That indicates a high social class, said Lautier, “a family that was clearly very wealthy.”
Since November, surveys of the area have uncovered items from the Iron Age, High Middle Ages, and other eras.
The excavations are expected to end next month.