Archaeological discoveries often shed light on the practices and beliefs of ancient societies, offering crucial data about their way of life and cultural interactions. In Orléans, excavations under a former 18th century hospital revealed a unique Roman necropolis, dated between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. The research, conducted by the Orléans Archeology Service (SAVO) with the support of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), made it possible to exhume 21 curse tablets, or defixiones.
Among them, an inscription in the Gallic language, a rare written testimony of this culture, is striking. Addressed to Mars, Roman god of war, it reveals a fascinating mix of religious and social practices between Roman and Gallic cultures, enriching our understanding of identity dynamics in Gaul under Roman domination.
A rehabilitation offering a dive into history
This discovery is linked to the redevelopment project for the site of the former Porte Madeleine hospital, where a campus and residential blocks are to be built. In 2017, an archaeological diagnosis was carried out, revealing, under a building, the existence of four first burials.
A skeleton found with a curse tablet between its legs. © Orléans Archeology Service (SAVO)
Five years later, a first excavation campaign confirmed the presence of a vast necropolis extending over approximately one hectare. This initial intervention made it possible to clear around twenty graves. Between 2023 and the end of 2024, a new phase of research, carried out over an expanded area, uncovered 80 additional burials. Dated from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, they belong to the period of the Roman Empire. Certain tombs, superimposed on each other, testify to the reuse of the burial site through several generations.
An atypical necropolis in the heart of Orléans
The necropolis, located about 120 kilometers southwest of Paris, has an unusual configuration. Particularly for a time when Roman funerary practices followed well-established standards. The tombs were arranged in a single row along a wall, an uncommon arrangement. The deceased, exclusively men, were buried in wooden coffins. Some still bore traces of paint, evoking special care during funeral rites. The total absence of cremation, a practice that was dominant in the Roman Empire until the 2nd century, reinforces the idea that this cemetery sheltered a specific community.
Among the objects found in the tombs, archaeologists have uncovered vases and coins. These are traditional offerings intended to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. However, the most striking element of this discovery lies in the 21 lead tablets, known as definitions. These small plaques, carefully rolled and often perforated with a nail, bore inscriptions intended for the deities. The messages they contain, often formulated as curses, testify to a need for justice or divine vengeance. This type of practice is well documented in the ancient Mediterranean world. It offers the possibility of studying the integration of Gallic cultural elements into Roman traditions.
The tablets: messengers of divine curses
In tomb F2199, an intriguing lead tablet was discovered. It was carefully placed between the legs of the deceased, an unusual location which could indicate its ritual importance. This fragment of lead, rolled up and partially corroded, bore a complex inscription mixing Latin and Gaulish. A Celtic language little documented in writing, even less on artifacts of this nature!
The analysis of this tablet required advanced techniques. Reflectance Transform Imaging (RTI) captured the lead surface in detail. It actually revealed subtle traces of writing. X-ray tomography provided a three-dimensional view of the interior, allowing virtual “unrolling” without damaging the artifact.
Lead curse tablet. © Orléans Archeology Service (SAVO)
The text of the tablet addresses an explicit curse to Mars. This Roman god of war is invoked to exact divine vengeance. He accuses several people, named in the inscription, of acts described as unjust and unfortunate. And he extends the curse to their accomplices. According to Pierre-Yves Lambert, a linguist at the CNRS specializing in Celtic languages, the invocation begins with these words: “ To Mars the Royal, who pierces the names », emphasizing an active and formidable role attributed to the divinity. Researchers hope that studying the other tablets will provide more clues about the meaning of these curses and their social context.
A window into the religious and cultural past
The discovery of this tablet combining Latin and Gaulish constitutes a rare testimony to linguistic and cultural coexistence in Romanized Gaul. Although Gaulish survived several centuries after the Roman conquest, its written use was exceptional. It was limited mainly to votive or funerary inscriptions. Here, its association with a Roman religious practice, the definitionsunderlines a form of syncretism. Local and imperial traditions intertwine. It therefore testifies to the persistence of a Celtic culture within an empire where Latin dominated. We thus glimpse a rich dynamic of integration but also of cultural resistance.
Ongoing analyzes aim to deepen the understanding of the rituals associated with these tablets, while exploring the social aspects of the individuals buried. The funerary objects, the traces of the painted coffins and the arrangement of the tombs already provide clues to the community organization of this necropolis. The researchers speculate that these men were potentially linked by a common function. Perhaps military or artisanal. By studying the materials, the composition of the tablets and the inscriptions, they hope to reconstruct a more precise picture of a Gaul in full transformation.
A scientific quest that continues for other tablets
Curse tablets, in particular, transcend their initial role as simple ritual supports. They represent living archives of human emotions, social conflicts and spiritual conceptions of the time. By invoking Roman deities while integrating Gallic linguistic and cultural elements, these artifacts reveal a complexity of identity often erased from historical accounts. They also shed light on the tensions and adaptations marking the encounter between indigenous cultures and a unifying empire.
The translation of the remaining 20 tablets, still in progress, promises to deepen this exploration. Each could reveal new stories of curses, social interactions, or specific beliefs. For archaeologists, this will enrich knowledge of the relationships between the living and the dead, men and gods. These discoveries demonstrate that archeology is not just a science focused on the past. But they constitute a means of giving a voice back to often forgotten peoples and cultures.
Source: Orléans Archeology Service
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