Archaeologists have uncovered dozens of Roman-era graves containing “curse tablets” in France, including one inscribed in a language long lost to history. The graves were found beneath an 18th-century hospital in Orléans, 75 miles southwest of Paris.
Unique burial arrangement raises questions
The burial site dates back to between the first and third centuries A.D. and includes more than 60 graves aligned in a single row along a wall. Experts have called the arrangement unusual for the era.
Unlike typical Roman cemeteries, the graves lacked cremations, and no women or children were buried there. Painted wooden coffins were also evident, further distinguishing the site.
Researchers believe the men buried here may have been part of a specific group, such as a professional guild or a distinct social class, according to the Orléans Archaeology Service. However, it was the discovery of 21 lead curse tablets that elevated the significance of the find.
Découverte fascinante à Orléans : des fouilles sur l’ancien hôpital Porte Madeleine ont révélé 21 “tablettes de malédiction” en plomb.
Certaines inscriptions en langue gauloise constituent un corpus exceptionnel.
Un trésor archéologique ! pic.twitter.com/OXJv6uz3x1
— Le Traqueur (@_letraqueur_) January 7, 2025
What are curse tablets?
Curse tablets, known as “defixiones” in Latin, were widely used in the ancient Mediterranean to send messages to the gods.
Individuals would inscribe curses or wishes onto thin sheets of lead, pierce them with nails, and deposit them in graves, wells, or other sacred spaces. The practice was believed to invoke divine intervention against enemies or to fulfill personal desires.
A glimpse into grave F2199
One tablet from the site, placed between the legs of a man in grave F2199, has been studied in detail. Alongside the tablet were coins and a broken vase, suggesting ritual significance. Preservation experts treated the fragile artifact with chemicals to prevent decay.
Advanced imaging techniques, including reflectance transformation imaging, allowed researchers to analyze the tablet without damaging it. The text included inscriptions in both Latin cursive and Gaulish, a language spoken by Celtic people but now extinct.
A connection to the God of War
Pierre-Yves Lambert, a linguistics specialist with the French National Center for Scientific Research, believes the tablet was dedicated to “Mars Rigisamu,” meaning “Mars the Royal” – a reference to the Roman god of war. The inscription named several individuals, seemingly accused of wrongdoing, as targets of the curse.
The use of Gaulish on the tablet has sparked particular interest. Although the language persisted for centuries after the Roman conquest, it was rarely written down. The find provides rare and valuable insight into the language’s usage and preservation.
Ongoing analysis and future discoveries
Another folded curse tablet from the site in France is undergoing analysis using X-ray tomography. This method allows researchers to examine its interior without unrolling it. The contents of this tablet remain unknown, but future scans may reveal more.
#archeologie #Orléans
🎥 Tournage en cours sur la fouille de l’ancien Hôpital Porte Madeleine! pic.twitter.com/fkIkZOsc1p— Service d’archéologie de la Ville d’Orléans (@ArcheoOrleans) November 29, 2024
The excavation is set to conclude at the end of the month (January, 2025), but the investigation is far from over. Researchers plan to conduct further laboratory analysis on the artifacts, shedding light on the lives, beliefs, and practices of those buried at this remarkable site.