French archaeologists during the excavations in the lands of Burgundy for several centuries part of the Duchy of Savoy, was discovered an ancient necropolis with tombs, full of luxury items.
a Brief report about the discovery is published on the website of the National Institute for preventive archaeological research (Inrap). Excavations were conducted in the vicinity of a small Roman town which was located near the modern city of Annecy.
Archaeologists have discovered an ancient necropolis, which occupies a large area and was probably used for burial of important people. This indicates not only the architecture, but ritual objects found in the graves.
So, were found fragments of the necklace, more than a dozen combs made of bone, exquisite buckles for belts and shoes, charms for clothing. Some of them were made of silver, coated with gold and decorated with garnets.
Also found were a bracelet of gilded silver, set with diamonds toiletries and a few same silver brooches, luxurious clasps for clothing, covered with gold. The researchers noted the high artistic quality of the performance of the latter.
One of the brooches, for example, was made in the form of a bird of prey, three in the shape of horses. In addition, in the necropolis was discovered an arrowhead and hacking – a long combat knife with one-sided sharpening. Survived even the wooden scabbard from him.
Radiocarbon Dating showed that the items were placed in graves between the second half of the V and the second half of VII centuries. This chronology sheds new light on the history of settlement in this region.
Previously, scientists found that the Roman town was founded here in the second half of the first century of our era. It had a triangular floor plan and occupied an area of 30 hectares. there was a forum with a Basilica, thermal baths, theatre and temples. Until now it was believed that in late antiquity the city was abandoned.
the Discovery proves that the mass of the population left the region. The necropolis that emerged in the Roman period, continued to be used over the next centuries. Archaeologists have unearthed already in 227 burials. And they say they found only a small portion of the graves. Approximately 30 graves were equipped with luxury.
These lands had long been under the control of the County of Geneva, which existed from 1401 894 for years on the territory of modern South-Eastern France and South-Western Switzerland.
However, the artifacts found indicate that the influence of the state with its capital in Geneva by the Burgundian population was great in the V century of our era.
In the later period, the region came under the control of the Duchy of Savoy state in the South-East of the modern France and North Western Italy, which existed from 1720 1416 for years and belonged to the house of Savoy.
