Lead coffins of Flers (France, Orne) from the early modern times : methodology of an interdisciplinary study
Les cercueils en plomb d’époque moderne de Flers (France, Orne) : Méthodologie d’une étude interdisciplinaire
Résumé
In the autumn 2014, a preventive excavation led by the INRAP archaeologists brought to light the remains of the ancient Saint-Germain church of Flers and its parish burial ground (northwestern France). A sample of 250 graves were excavated. Two of them aroused great interest when they were discovered. Two burial vaults, located in the church choir, held each a lead coffin. A lead heart-shaped container had been laid down on top of one of them, which was a probable sign of an embalming ritual (a practise generally reserved to people of high social status).