Archaeologists in Valence, France, have uncovered a significant medieval funerary complex, shedding new light on the city’s early Christian past.
The discovery, made on Rue Peloux after a chance report in late 2024, has prompted an extensive excavation led by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) since October 2025.
Initial investigations by regional authorities (DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) revealed the presence of a vast burial site dating from as early as the 6th century through to at least the 12th century, with evidence of continued use into the late medieval period.
The excavation has so far identified 213 graves, many clustered around the remains of a large structure whose walls had largely been dismantled and reused over time.
Archaeologists believe the building may have been an early Christian funerary basilica, though the possibility of a church has not been ruled out. The east-facing structure appears to have included a nave and transept, measuring approximately 22 metres in length. Its apse featured three semicircular sections, including a central apse around 4.5 metres wide. Much of the building, including its façade, remains unexcavated.
“This is a major discovery for understanding the Christian landscape of Valence,” researchers said, noting that the site had previously been unknown.
The cemetery itself offers a rare glimpse into medieval burial practices and population patterns. In total, archaeologists have identified at least 224 individuals buried in situ, alongside remains of roughly 100 others found in secondary positions. Burial types vary widely, including stone coffins, tile coffins, and simple pit graves.
Preliminary analysis suggests a mortality pattern consistent with a typical medieval population. Among the buried are approximately 130 adults and 80 children, many of whom were interred near the northern side of the structure. Notably, infants and younger children appear concentrated in this area, though it was not exclusively reserved for them.
The largest of these is a group of mass graves dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Eight burial structures containing a total of 34 individuals suggest episodes of sudden mortality, likely linked to an epidemic.
While outbreaks of the Black Death were recorded in southern France during this period, researchers caution that other diseases, such as smallpox or typhus, may also be responsible.
Further analysis, including radiocarbon dating and bioarchaeological study, is expected to provide deeper insight into the lives—and deaths—of Valence’s medieval inhabitants.
Header Image Credit : Flore Giraud
Sources : Inrap
