Death levels both kings and monks: archaeologists have unearthed unusual tombs in Italy (photos).

Archaeological excavations have provided a fascinating insight into the burial practices of both the Lombard dynasty and medieval monks. This year, a team of researchers from the Catholic University conducted digs that uncovered over twenty burials from the early Middle Ages, writes Arkeonews.

In the mid-7th century AD, the Lombard king Aripert I ordered the construction of the first dynastic mausoleum in Pavia, Italy. This site served as the burial place for his heirs until the early 8th century, marking a significant departure from traditional Germanic burial customs.

In the 10th century, Adelaide, the wife of Emperor Otto I, established an imperial monastery on this site, later replaced by the 15th-century Basilica of San Salvatore, which still stands today.

The team from the Catholic University, led by Professor Ekaterina Jostrova, has been studying this site since 2017 with the support of the Swiss foundation Plus Patrum Lumen Sustine. The focus of recent research has been the southern part of the Small Cloister, where archaeologists discovered remarkably well-preserved burials.

In particular, some tombs feature gabled roofs or stone chambers, and one of them is adorned with a painted red cross—a rare find believed to indicate the high social status of the deceased.

Over time, some of these tombs were reused, suggesting exhumation and reorganization of skeletal remains either for symbolic purposes or to create space for new burials.

A second layer of simpler burials was found above the elite Lombard graves, attributed to the monks who lived here during the Late Middle Ages. Additionally, an underground passage connecting the monastery cellars to a central well was discovered at the excavation site.

Modern technologies, particularly drones, 3D photogrammetry, and forensic analysis, have aided in documenting these findings. The collected samples are being studied in collaboration with the Laboratory of Anthropology and Forensic Odontology (LABANOF) at the University of Milan, under the guidance of Professor Cristina Cattaneo, to analyze aspects such as diet, lifestyle, and kinship.

Archaeogenetic studies will help determine whether these individuals were related to the local population or to those from Northern Europe, adding a broader cultural dimension to the results obtained.

This research not only sheds light on early medieval burial practices but also connects us to the complex cultural and social structures of the past, reminding us of the enduring relevance of historical studies.

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