The French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research announced on April 4 that as archaeologists excavated an area in La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz, a small city near Rennes, traces of the Roman empire’s past rule over western France were uncovered.

Empty tombs, a ditch that once held devoted offerings, and other vestiges of faded glory were found, with the skeletons long since dissolved and the offerings deteriorated, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.

Rennes, where the Roman empire was established around the end of the first century B.C., is located about 210 miles southwest of Paris, according to French officials in an archaeological atlas for the area.

According to the announcement, archaeologists have discovered evidence of a significant Roman occupation site at La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz, which included a thermal bathhouse, burial ground, and sanctuary.

The sanctuary, believed to be about 2,000 years old and dedicated to the Roman god of war, Mars, was constructed during the Roman period’s early years. Experts uncovered a statue of Mars and an array of weapons like swords and spearheads, which were possibly left as offerings by devout soldiers.

Archaeologists revealed that a wooden, public thermal bathhouse was located nearby, where everyday objects like pottery were buried.

Additionally, they unexpectedly uncovered a burial ground or necropolis, which contained 40 tombs, a short distance away. Some of the rectangular graves can be seen in photographs.

Written by staff