2,000-year-old remains of a child and puppy uncovered in France

📸 Archaeologists at the grave near Clement-Ferrand in France. Photograph: Denis Gliksman/Inrap

The child and dog were buried during Roman rule the start of the first century AD.

Archaeologists in France have discovered the remains of a Roman-era child who appears to have been buried with their pet dog, at a site near Clement-Ferrand in what would have been part of Roman Gaul.

The child, believed to have been around one year old, was buried in a wooden coffin 80cm long made with nails and marked with a decorative iron tag. Archaeologists said they also found an ornamental copper pin used to attach a shroud.

The coffin was placed in a 2 metre by 1 metre grave and surrounded by around 20 objects including a number of miniature terracotta vases and glass pots thought to have contained oils and medicines, half a pig, three hams and other cuts of pork, and two headless chickens.

A young dog was placed at the feet of the deceased outside the coffin. The puppy was wearing a collar with bronze decorations and fitted with a small bell. A a 30cm iron ring attached to a bent metal rod, which archaeologists believe to be a toy, had also been slipped between the animal’s legs.

📸 The coffin was surrounded by food, vases, and other animal offerings. Photograph: Denis Gliksman/Inrap

Adults were usually cremated in Roman Gaul, but children were often buried at the family property, suggesting a sizeable villa existed nearby.

Although the burial of young children with dogs is well documented from this period, the collar fitted with a bell is unusual.

Child burials are undoubtedly among the most sad and difficult discoveries that archaeologists ever make, but they can also remind us of the love and relationships that held families together in the past. Evidence of childhood, toys, and children’s possessions, are also often unusual to find, and provide valuable insight into what is an often overlooked part of life in archaeological studies.

“The items that accompany this deceased are absolutely exceptional, both in terms of quantity and quality,” said the National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP).

“Such a profusion of crockery and butchered items, as well as the personal effects that followed the child to his grave, underline the privileged rank to which [their] family belonged”.

The burial was uncovered during a dig at a site at Clermont-Ferrand airport, in central France, to enable a development project to go ahead.

It is reported to be the oldest and most important find of a child’s burial in France. An older grave, believed to date from the Roman conquest of Gaul several decades earlier, contained a number of weapons, suggesting its occupant was a soldier.

Love archaeology?

DigVentures was born from a mission: to connect people who love archaeology with opportunities to DO archaeology. Together, we're making groundbreaking new discoveries that everyone can be part of, and creating archaeology content that we can all share, learn from and enjoy. Wherever you live and whatever your background, you can be part of it too.

Become a Subscriber

Written by Maiya

Director of Engagement at DigVentures, Maiya digs with a trowel in one hand, and a Twitter feed in the other. She loves finding new ways to get people involved in archaeology - online and in the field.

Read more from Maiya +

Comments (2)

  1. Marguerite White says:

    thats a really great discovery,but it were well known to have beloved animals buried at the feet of humans..I think that possibly the puppy was killed because a baby had died and the food is what would be eaten..

  2. John Richardson says:

    What an amazing discovery! It certainly pulls at the heart strings too.
    I have a particular interest in canids and equids in the archaeological record, so this was of particular interest to me.
    Thank you .

Leave a comment

Get the DigVentures Newsletter

Sign up to discover opportunities to get involved in archaeology - in your area, and beyond!

Easy opt-out at any time - Privacy Policy

Archaeology / In Your Hands
  • Heritage Lottery Fund
  • CIfA

See all the archaeology digs, talks, festivals and other events coming up at DigVentures

Learn more about digging up the past and have fun while you're doing it!

We're connecting people who love archaeology, with opportunities to do archaeology.

Archaeology experiences and other perfect presents for people who love the past.