Revue Archéologique du Centre de la France (Mar 2005)

La nécropole mérovingienne du “ Poteau ” à Richelieu (Indre-et-Loire) : apports chrono-typologiques

  • Philippe Blanchard,
  • Patrice Georges

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43
pp. 149 – 169

Abstract

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A rescue excavation in advance of road building near Richelieu (department of the Indre-et-Loire) was carried out in October 2002. It brought to light some 35 graves belonging to a Merovingian cemetery. Observations made during the fieldwork allowed the understanding of the chronological and spatial organisation of the remains. They also showed the existence of several types of burials (sarcophagus, wood and mixed stone and wood-lined burial pits) as well as a sort of stretcher used to carry the body.Although many sites of this period have been discovered and published, well studied examples are rare. The dating of the small finds and the comparison with other sites both within and outside of the region have given a better understanding of Merovingian burial practices in this area on the border of Poitou and Touraine.

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