Discovery of an Early Christian Baptistery in Ajaccio

Part of the cathedral complex whose exact location has not yet been determined, the baptistery consists of an apse (4.60 x 3.50m), framed by several buildings, in the centre of which is a large cruciform baptismal font (2.68 x 1.39m, depth 1.34m), whose model should be looked for in North Africa. Twice, during the Early Middle Ages, this basin was subjected to transformations to reduce its volume and adapt it to changes in the baptism rite. This font can be linked with a smaller cylindrical basin (80cm diameter) perhaps intended for the washing of the catechumens' feet before the baptism itself. 

The excavation of an important rubbish pit, associated with this complex, has led to the collection of almost 5,000 potsherds. The diversity of their provenance shows that the site was, in the 6^th and 7^thcenturies, and perhaps still in the 8^th century of our era, fully integrated into the Mediterranean commercial network. 

The baptistery fell into disuse and a cemetery was installed on its ruins. Eighty tombs have been located and excavated. The types of graves places were very varied: the remains of the deceased were buried in amphora, under tiles, in stone chests, in the rock and directly in the earth. They can be linked with examples from Sardinia, Italy and the South of France (6^th – 12^th centuries) that have been found. To this list should be added the white marble sarcophagus decorated with an image of the deceased framed by the Four Seasons accompanied by the "Good Shepherd" and by Dionysos, discovered on this same site in 1938.

Several ceramic tiles used for the construction of tombs were incised before firing (knots, door crowned with a half sun, cross) and above all inscriptions whose meaning has yet to be determined. The skeletons are in a good state of conservation. First observations show that the majority of those buried here were young (between approximately sixteen and forty years of age) and that there was a fairly equal proportion of men and women.

What preventive archaeology brings to our knowledge of the Early Christian period

The Ajaccio site completes our knowledge of other Corsican baptismal complexes of the same period, such as those of Mariana, Sagone, Bravone and Rescamone. In four years, preventive archaeology has completely renewed research, on the pivotal period between the end of Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. Inrap archaeologists have excavated four Early Christian basilicas whose dates vary between the 4^th and 5^th centuries in Arles and Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Rezé (Loire-Atlantique), Roanne (Loire).