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Excavations in the centre of Bondy : vestiges from almost two thousand years ago
For more than six years, several operations of preventive archaeology have been carried out in the centre of Bondy. The successive excavations have revealed, between the Church and the Hôtel de Ville, traces of ancient and medieval occupations, dating from the 3rd to the 11th centuries AD.
Chronicle of site
Post date
17 May 2011
Last modified
19 January 2017
This quarter is at present the object of a new urban planning project by Bondy Habitat. Inrap and the Office of Archaeology of Seine-Saint-Denis have associated in order to excavate this site, curated by the State (Drac, Île-de-France).
Successive funerary spaces
Between the 3rd and the 5th centuries AD, a vast necropolis was established on the site. With more than 400 graves, it has now been partially excavated. The deceased were placed in coffins of which archaeologists have sometimes found traces of wood and some nails. Brought to light in 2007, seven stone sarcophagi, aligned on a north-south axis, marked the limit of the necropolis. An eighth sarcophagus is at present being excavated.
During the Merovingian epoch (6th-8th centuries), funeral practices evolved and the necropolis moved towards the south-west. Early in the 7th century, one of the most ancient textual sources, the Testament of Ermentrude, relates the presence of a Church in Bondy, around which the cemetery was created. Previous excavations revealed the presence of plaster sarcophagi, sometimes decorated. The deceased were buried in them dressed, and adorned with belt plates and pins to fasten the clothes.
In 2007, the excavation at the foot of the church revealed graves of plague victims. The deceased, sometimes in groups of five, were placed in multiple graves. This discovery of victims of the terrible 1348 plague is exceptional in the Île-de-France region. Genetic and carbon 14 dating have confirmed this discovery.
During the Merovingian epoch (6th-8th centuries), funeral practices evolved and the necropolis moved towards the south-west. Early in the 7th century, one of the most ancient textual sources, the Testament of Ermentrude, relates the presence of a Church in Bondy, around which the cemetery was created. Previous excavations revealed the presence of plaster sarcophagi, sometimes decorated. The deceased were buried in them dressed, and adorned with belt plates and pins to fasten the clothes.
In 2007, the excavation at the foot of the church revealed graves of plague victims. The deceased, sometimes in groups of five, were placed in multiple graves. This discovery of victims of the terrible 1348 plague is exceptional in the Île-de-France region. Genetic and carbon 14 dating have confirmed this discovery.
A Carolingian village
Today, archaeologists are discovering an important Carolingian village of the 9th-11th century. Searchers have cleared numerous pole holes indicating imposing buildings and outline Bondy’s urban organization, of more than a thousand years ago. Also present are « hut bases », small structures excavated sometimes housing weaving looms. Ovens, grain silos, ditches for evacuating rainwater and structuring the space complete the ensemble.

Plan mai 2011
© Cyrille Le Forestier, Marie-José Duprez/ Inrap

Fouille d'une zone qui a livré des vestiges gallo-romains et du haut Moyen Âge.
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une zone qui a livré des vestiges gallo-romains et du haut Moyen Âge.
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille de deux sépultures gallo-romaines.
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une sépulture gallo-romaine contenant deux individus
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Dessin en cours d'une sépulture gallo-romaine
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Dégagement d'une sépulture gallo-romaine
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une zone ayant livré un sarcophage en calcaire de la fin de l'époque gallo-romaine
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une zone ayant livré un sarcophage en calcaire de la fin de l'époque gallo-romaine
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une sépulture gallo-romaine
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Dessin en cours d'une sépulture gallo-romaine
© Isabelle GAULON / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'un four domestique du haut Moyen Âge
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une série de four du haut Moyen Âge
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille d'une série de four du haut Moyen Âge
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Fouille de silos à grain du haut Moyen Âge
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Manche de couteau du haut Moyen Âge
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis

Alignement d'une série de poteaux (palissage ? bâtiment ?)
© Emmanuelle JACQUOT / Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis
Developer : Bondy Habitat
Scientific control : Service régional de l'archéologie (Drac Île-de-France)
Site director : Cyrille Le Forestier, Inrap
Contact(s) :
Mahaut Tyrrell
Media communication
Inrap, media partnerships and relations department
01 40 08 80 24
mahaut.tyrrell [at] inrap.fr
Laure Ferry
01 41 83 75 51
laurre.ferry [at] inrap.fr
Claude Héron
06 24 15 36 59
cheron [at] cg93.fr