This Week in Archaeology: A French Church’s Hidden Vault, Iron Age War Trumpet, and Roman Villa Beneath a Welsh Park
Restoration work at a medieval French church turned into a time capsule expedition when crews uncovered burials spanning over a millennium. The Church of Saint Philibert in Dijon needed repairs after a 1970s heating installation backfired spectacularly, trapping salt-saturated ground beneath concrete and causing the 800-year-old foundation to crack. What started as a fix-it project became an archaeological journey through six different centuries.
The week also brought us closer to Boudicca’s revolt with the discovery of an intact iron age war trumpet in Norfolk, and a massive Roman villa hiding just beneath the surface of a popular Welsh park.
This and more archaeological finds from this week: ⬇️
Lost Burial Vault Reveals Six Centuries of History Beneath French Church
Restoration crews investigating foundation damage at the Church of Saint Philibert in Dijon stumbled upon a forgotten staircase leading to centuries of buried history. The project began after 1970s workers installed heated concrete slabs over ground saturated with salt, causing the medieval foundation to crack. Archaeological teams led by Clarisse Couderc and Carole Fossurier found a hidden vault in the church’s transept containing coffins of children and adults wrapped in simple shrouds, accompanied by ancient coins and rosaries.
Deeper excavations revealed slab tombs from the 11th through 13th centuries, plus six sarcophagi from the Late Antiquity and Merovingian periods, one featuring a sculpted lid. The team also uncovered evidence of an earlier church previously discovered in 1923 excavations, and below that, wall remnants from the Early Middle Ages built with herringbone masonry techniques dating to the 10th century. The presence of burials from multiple eras confirms the church served as a major funerary center during the transition from Roman rule to the Early Middle Ages.
Neolithic Seal Points to Advanced Society 7,500 Years Ago in Eastern Turkey
A 7,500-year-old stone seal unearthed at Tadım Fortress in eastern Turkey predates the kingdom of Urartu by millennia, providing evidence that complex social organization existed in the region far earlier than previously known. The seal’s exact purpose remains under investigation, though researchers believe it marked property ownership or personal identity. Governor Numan Hatipoğlu noted that findings show the region developed sophisticated social, economic, and cultural practices that influenced later civilizations. Another seal known locally as ‘cec damga muhru’ was found to have been used in grain trading, reinforcing evidence of a structured economy.
A temple recently discovered at the site offers some of the oldest evidence of ritual architecture in the region. Dating to around 6,000 years ago, the temple features a stone altar with a ritual blood channel, and cut marks alongside animal and human remains suggest blood sacrifices. Near the temple, excavators found ceremonial and everyday items including tools, seal stamps likely used for agricultural trade, idol figurines on four podiums, and a hearth designed to keep a holy flame burning. Unique double-headed hearths carved with animal images and a jug thought to have held sacrificial blood or wine were also discovered.
Complete Iron Age War Trumpet Found in Britain May Connect to Boudicca’s Rebellion
Excavations in west Norfolk uncovered the most complete iron age war trumpet ever discovered anywhere in the world. The bronze carnyx, fashioned as a snarling wild animal, represents only the third such instrument found in Britain. The trumpet would have been mounted on a long mouthpiece high above warriors’ heads to intimidate enemies in battle. Mark Hinman, chief executive of Pre-Construct Archaeology, called it a once-in-a-lifetime find after more than 40 years in the field.
The carnyx was found among military objects including a bronze boar’s head battle standard (unique in Britain) and five shield bosses. The hoard’s location falls within the territory of the Iceni, the tribe that staged a rebellion against Rome in AD 60 led by Boudicca. The artifacts were almost certainly buried in the first century AD. Fraser Hunter, iron age and Roman curator at the National Museum of Scotland, described the find as extraordinary and said it would reshape understanding of sound and music in the iron age.
Greek historian Diodorus Siculus wrote in the first century BC that warrior tribes blew into these trumpets to produce a harsh sound suited to war. The newly discovered carnyx shows signs of repair, indicating long use. While partially dismantled before burial, the whole bell and head remain relatively complete, and it’s the only carnyx ever found with its ears still attached.
Erich von Däniken, Author Who Popularized Ancient Alien Theories, Dies at 90
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose books about extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among paranormal enthusiasts and criticism from scientists, died in a hospital in central Switzerland. Von Däniken rose to prominence in 1968 with “Chariots of the Gods,” claiming Mayans and ancient Egyptians were visited by alien astronauts who instructed them in advanced technology for building pyramids. The book fueled interest in unexplained phenomena just as man prepared to land on the Moon.
“Chariots of the Gods” was followed by more than two dozen similar books mixing fact and fantasy against historical and scientific evidence. Almost 70 million copies of his books were sold in more than 30 languages, making him one of the most widely read Swiss authors. Born in 1935, von Däniken worked as a waiter and barkeeper before becoming a hotel manager in Davos, where he began writing his first book. His success was marked by financial troubles and prison stints for fraud and tax issues.
Von Däniken gained the first “Ig Nobel” prize for literature in 1991 for raising public awareness through questionable claims. Even when confronted with fabricated evidence in a British documentary, he insisted his theories were sound. Although his popularity waned by the 1980s, his work influenced archaeological documentaries and shows including “The X-Files.” His last major venture, the “Mystery Park” theme park, failed after a few years. Von Däniken is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elisabeth Skaja, daughter Cornelia, and two grandchildren.
Excavations at Caesarea Maritima Provide Physical Evidence of Biblical Events
The ancient port city of Caesarea Maritima on Israel’s coast has yielded what experts call the most compelling physical proof yet supporting the Bible. The city, now an archaeological park 30 miles outside Tel Aviv, was built between 22 B.C. and 10 B.C. by King Herod and housed a massive harbor, aqueducts, a theater, and a public stadium. Caesarea Maritima is mentioned several times in the Book of Acts as a major hub for early Roman politics and Christianity.
Evidence suggests early Christians lived and worshipped there, aligning with New Testament accounts. The Bible names it as where the first non-Jewish believer was baptized by Peter, marking Christianity’s spread beyond the Judaic community. It’s also where Paul was imprisoned and tried before Roman officials. Detailed mosaics quoting Paul’s letters were found throughout the city, including inscriptions believed to be among the oldest in the New Testament. One mosaic features Romans 13:3: “Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
The site is home to the Pilates Stone, discovered in 1961, which bears an inscription announcing Pontius Pilate as Roman governor of Judea. This was the first concrete archaeological proof that Pontius Pilate, who oversaw Jesus’ trial and execution in the Bible, was a real historical figure. The inscription reads: “To this Divine Augusti Tiberieum, Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, has dedicated this,” dating between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D. The original stone now rests at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Archaeologists also unearthed a governor’s residence and a praetorium for high-ranking government and military officials.
Largest Roman Villa Ever Found in Wales Discovered Beneath Popular Park
Ground penetrating radar revealed a 572 square meter Roman villa surrounded by fortifications beneath Margam Country Park in Wales. Dr. Alex Langlands, project lead from Swansea University’s Centre for Heritage Research and Training, described his eyes nearly popping out of his skull at the discovery. The villa is the largest standalone structure yet discovered in Wales, and its location in a historical deer park means the land has not been ploughed or built on, suggesting excellent preservation less than a meter below the surface.
The villa appears to be a corridor design with two wings and a veranda running along the front. At around 43 meters long, it looks to have six main rooms to the front with two corridors leading to eight rooms at the rear. Langlands said it would have been a really impressive and prestigious building, likely finely decorated with statues and mosaic floors, suggesting a major local dignitary made it home. The site would have been the center of a big agricultural estate with lots of people coming and going.
Geophysical surveys also revealed a substantial 354 square meter aisled building to the southeast of the villa, believed to be either a barn or meeting hall. Most known Roman remains in Wales are from military camps and forts, while grandiose estates like this are less commonly found. Langlands said the discovery would force experts to rewrite how they think about south Wales in the Romano-British period, showing it wasn’t some borderland but had buildings just as sophisticated as those in southern England. It also showed Margam, a place that may have lent its name to the historic region of Glamorgan, was one of the most important centers of power in Wales.
Christian Bird of TerraDat, the Welsh firm which carried out the surveys, said the images were remarkably clear, identifying and mapping in 3D the villa structure, surrounding ditches, and wider site layout. The villa’s exact location is being kept secret over fears of rogue metal detectorists. Langlands suggested it had potential to be “Port Talbot’s Pompeii” because of preservation levels visible in survey data and because the deer park hasn’t been subject to ploughing that has damaged other villa sites.
Smiling Medusa Carving Discovered at Ancient Roman Forum in Turkey
A carved Medusa image recently discovered at an ancient Roman forum in Amastris (modern-day Amasra, Turkey) offers a fresh take on the iconic Greek mythological figure. Instead of the typical frightening depiction with snakes for hair and menacing expressions, ceiling panels above marbled columns show Medusa smiling like a child. Fatma Bagdatli Cam, a Bartin University professor, said their Medusa was made just like an Eros, like the face of a very small child in a smiling pose.
The discovery occurred during excavations of a monumental Roman forum with a columned gallery and ceiling tiles. As part of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Heritage for the Future project, a 30,000-square-foot area has yielded marble columns up to 30 feet tall. The research team is attempting to recreate the forum (also known as a Roman stoa), and has uncovered at least seven columns, additional architectural blocks, ceiling coffers, and evidence that a second stoa sits nearby.
Images of Medusa were commonly used to scare would-be visitors, serving as deterrents often placed on architectural elements, decorative pieces, or shields. The more welcoming side of Medusa seen at Amasra turns typical mythology upside down, with the smile designed to represent peace and prosperity instead, Cam said. Past finds at the site include an Alexander the Great statue head, statues of a nymph, and multiple Lares statues from a regional Roman religion. Work continues to recreate the Roman stoa, with three columns already re-erected, and eventually open the site to visitors.