Located on the northern coast of the island of Ré, in southwestern France, La Flotte has been a strategic enclave since ancient times and may have served as a mooring port. Its archaeological history suggests that this area has witnessed intense maritime interactions since Antiquity, playing a key role in the commercial and military movements that shaped the European Atlantic coast.
During the Early Middle Ages, the island of Ré and other nearby islands were used as refuges for various populations in transit. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, medieval chronicles document Viking incursions in the region, reinforcing the hypothesis that La Flotte was a point of contact between the local inhabitants and northern European populations. Archaeological findings in this area provide tangible evidence of these exchanges, revealing a history rich in cultural and commercial interactions.
One of the most significant discoveries in La Flotte is a group of around fifty burials, located both within and around what may have been the chapel of the priory of Sainte-Eulalie. This monastery, first documented in 1156, was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, but its exact origins remain unknown.
The site’s funerary occupation spans from the late 8th century to the 15th century, indicating a continuous use of the space for over seven centuries. In addition to 48 primary individual burials, archaeologists have identified an ossuary and several areas with skeletal remains from disturbed or overlapping burials, suggesting the site was reused over time.
The oldest graves, dated to the Carolingian era (late 8th-10th century), are all located outside the chapel. Most are simple pits covered with wooden planks or, in some cases, a combination of wood and stone. However, some exhibit unusual features in terms of body positioning and grave orientation, suggesting possible unique funerary practices.
Five burials have particularly drawn the attention of researchers due to the unusual positions in which the bodies were placed. While the norm in medieval Christian burials was to lay the deceased on their back with extended legs, three of the individuals found in La Flotte displayed differing postures: one was lying on their left side with bent legs, another was buried face down, and a third was on their back but with limbs bent and raised.
The reasons for these atypical positions are still under investigation. They may have been intentional or, conversely, the result of the collapse of the burial structure over time. Regardless of the cause, two of these graves are also notable for their orientation, as they were positioned with the head facing south-southwest, which contrasts with the typical orientation of Christian burials of the time.
One of the most intriguing aspects of these burials is the presence of personal objects, indicating that the deceased were buried with part of their clothing or significant belongings. This type of “dressed” burial is a rarity in the Carolingian period, reinforcing the uniqueness of these individuals within the necropolis.
Among the discovered objects are two combs made of bone or deer antler, one of which features a geometric design similar to specimens found in the Frisian region. Necklaces and beads made of amber, glass, bone, and copper alloys have also been found—elements characteristic of the Nordic world in the 9th century.
Regarding metal objects, a folding-blade knife was identified, a model previously recorded in southeastern England. Additionally, one of the graves contained a copper-alloy belt buckle, possibly silver-plated, decorated with an intricate interwoven motif reminiscent of Anglo-Saxon art.
Detailed studies of these objects are underway to determine their precise origin and manufacture. In particular, the analysis of the glass beads, organic remains on the combs, and textile fragments adhered to certain objects could shed light on the trade routes and cultural influences involved in this site.
Radiocarbon dating of the burials, along with isotopic and genetic studies of the skeletal remains, could provide fundamental clues about the geographic origin and social status of the individuals buried in La Flotte. So far, researchers are considering two main hypotheses: that these were individuals of foreign origin buried in a local cemetery, or that they were local inhabitants of privileged status, reflected in their attire and belongings even after death.
Whatever the final answer may be, the excavation at La Flotte has provided concrete archaeological evidence of the exchanges between the island of Ré and the Nordic world. These findings confirm that the island was part of a vast system of trade and conflicts that connected the Atlantic coasts of Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
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