An excavation project, led by the Catholic University in September and October, uncovered a significant discovery in a courtyard near the Basilica of the Santissimo Salvatore in Pavia, Italy .
Archaeologists discovered 20 medieval tombs dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries contained within a necropolis, in 'exceptional condition.' Upon uncovering the buried graves, the excavation team determined the tombs belonged to the Lombard dynasty, royal members of the court, and medieval monks.
"More than twenty early medieval tombs have been found in masonry cases that are often intact, both flat and gabled with intact bricks, and of these, the oldest is plastered and painted with a red cross in the center," explains Caterina Giostra, professor of Medieval Archaeology and director of the excavations. Over time, the burial niches have been opened and reused for subsequent burials. A practice that could have also led to the "recovery of valuable and symbolic artifacts."
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Excavation Team Uncovers Individuals of High Social Status Buried Within the Necropolis
In the 7th century, the Lombard King, Aripert I, had the dynastic mausoleum constructed, which would eventually be the resting place for him, his successors, and members of the royal court. Three centuries later, Adelaide, wife of Emperor Otto I of the Holy Roman Empire, decided to have a monastery built over the necropolis .
Now, 14 centuries later, the tombs are said to be remarkably preserved, according to archaeologists; many were constructed with brick and gabled roofs, one tomb, in particular, revealing a larger-than-life painting of a red cross on the entrance of the mausoleum. The 15th-century church, the Basilica of the Santissimo Salvatore, continues to stand on the hallowed grounds to this day.
Archaeologists, along with a team of university students from the University of Milan, specializing in archaeology, cultural heritage, and art history, discovered the medieval tombs in the southern area of the cloister, and have plans to begin excavations on the northern side in 2025.
The excavation team also uncovered a second area of tombs buried above the dynastic mausoleums, belonging to monks from the late medieval period, who were more than likely part of the monastery that was constructed in the 10th century. Remnants of the monastery are still present today, with reports of them linking to cellars and a well.
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The Necropolis Is the First Royal Burial Ground Built Within a Church, While Modern-Day Technology Reveals it to Archaeologists
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The necropolis was discovered by the excavation team with the use of drones and three-dimensional photogrammetry techniques, allowing them to identify the two layers of burial grounds. The students involved in the excavation have been given the responsibility of unearthing the bones within the tombs, as well as cleaning and cataloging them for researchers to conduct tests.
A collaboration between the University of Milan and the Laboratory of Anthropology and Forensic Odontology, led by Professor Cristina Cattaneo, will also test soil samples and research the ancient DNA of the bones to further identify and understand the profiles of the individuals buried within the tombs.