Archaeologists unearth Merovingian necropolis during excavations in Bordeaux

Some fifty sarcophagi have been discovered in the historic center of the Gironde capital. The site is open to the public until the end of May.

1,300-year-old remains. A large Merovingian necropolis unearthed in Bordeaux was unveiled on Tuesday, April 29, by the archaeologists in charge of the excavation. The site was discovered in late 2024 in the city's historic center , around the Sainte-Croix church, during excavations carried out prior to revegetation and tree planting work carried out by the Metropolis.

The church, a former abbey, was founded in the Merovingian period (from the 5th to the 7th century), "a few hundred meters from the ancient center" of Bordeaux, with "a necropolis which developed during the Middle Ages until it was enclosed in a parish cemetery in the modern period (18th century)" , recalled the head of the Bordeaux Métropole archaeological service, Laurent Guyard.

In total, nearly a hundred "funerary structures" , including 49 sarcophagi, dating from the Merovingian period to the modern era, as well as the "surprisingly well-preserved" white stone walls of the former cloister of the medieval abbey were discovered, buried between 30 cm and 1.80 m under the roadway. These remains are visible on the street and open to the public every Wednesday until the end of May, before the start of the initially planned development work. Excavations are due to continue in the district until the summer of 2026, before the remains are covered.