Workers in Dijon’s city center uncovered a surprising historical treasure while renovating a square as part of a redevelopment project.

Instead of the expected layers of dirt, they found sections of ancient stone just beneath the surface.

Archaeologists from the Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives discovered a line of ancient buildings, dating back to the 11th century, with walls measuring 10 to 15 feet wide.

These buildings once housed workshops, evidenced by pits with stake holes, where artisans of the time worked on their crafts, the Bradenton Herald has reported.

The proximity to an ancient cemetery and the nearby abbey of Saint-Bénigne suggests that this area was once an integral part of the bustling town, referenced in historical documents from the 9th to the 14th centuries.

Written by B.C. Begley