The 2000-year-old remains of a child from a wealthy family and their pet dog were discovered by archaeologists in France.
The baby, estimated to be a year old, was found in Aulnat in the Auvergne region of central France by a team investigating a planned expansion of the airport.
The remains date from the first century AD, when France would have been under Roman rule.
They were accompanied by numerous objects – including clay jars, animal parts and a small toy – as well as a puppy wearing a decorative collar.
Download for video
The 2,000-year-old remains of a baby, estimated to be about a year old, were found in Aulnat in the Auvergne region of central France. The body is surrounded by an abundance of animal sacrifices and objects, indicating that they have a high social prestige
“Such an abundance of crockery and slaughtered objects, as well as the personal belongings that the child followed to his grave, underscore the privileged rank to which his family belongs,” according to the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
This grave site was discovered in December as part of the preventive excavations done by INRAP prior to construction at Clermont-Ferrand Airport.
Evidence of a wooden coffin was discovered in the grave, surrounded by animal sacrifices, including half a pig, various cuts of pork and two headless chickens.
Twenty terracotta vases and various glass pots in the tomb may contain medicine, cosmetics or the child’s part of the funeral banquet, while researchers believe a foot-long iron hoop attached to a curved metal rod was a toy or part of a toy.
Archaeologists uncovered the cemetery as they searched the area for a planned expansion at Clermont-Ferrand Airport
Half of a pig, various cuts of pork and two headless chickens were found buried with the body. The skeleton of a dog with a decorated collar was located at the foot of the child’s coffin
A baby tooth of an older child was also found, possibly of an older sibling.
The skeleton of a puppy was found at the base of the coffin, with a collar with bronze decoration and a small bell.
A map indicating where the remains are located. Since November, archaeological excavations near Clermont-Ferrand Airport have uncovered items from the Iron Age, the High Middle Ages and other periods.
“A dog’s association with a young child is well documented in a funeral home, but here it’s the collar and bell that is unusual,” according to archaeologists.
They call the discovery “exceptional” and believe it is the oldest child’s cemetery discovered in France.
It dates from the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) or Tiberius (14 -37 AD), just decades after the birth of Jesus.
In the Roman era – modern-day France, Belgium, and parts of West Germany – adults would have been cremated, but children were often buried on family grounds.
Chief Archaeologist Laurence Lautier said the large amount of sacrifices the child buried was unusual.
About twenty terracotta vases, as well as glass bottles, were found. It is believed that it contains cosmetics, medicine or the part of the deceased of the funeral feast
The child would have lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) or Tiberius (14 -37 AD), just decades after the birth of Jesus
In Gaul from Roman times – present-day France, Belgium, and parts of West Germany – adults would have been cremated, but children were often buried on family farms.
“In this kind of grave we find one or two pots at the foot,” Lautier told AFP. “Here are about 20 and many food offerings.”
This indicates a high social class, Lautier said: “a family that was clearly very rich.”
Since November, surveys of the area have shown items from the Iron Age, the High Middle Ages and other periods.
The excavations are expected to end next month.