Archaeologists Discover Roman-Era Cemetery of Men Buried With 'Curse Tablets', Was Inscribed in an Extinct Language

Archaeologists have discovered an incredible Roman-era cemetery, complete with mysterious "curse tablets," beneath an 18th-century hospital in Orléans, France—one of which is inscribed in the extinct Celtic language of Gaulish, according to Live Science. The dig revealed more than 60 burials in an unusual single-row pattern along a wall that dated from the late first century to the early third century C.E.

These included the exciting discovery of 21 lead tablets—known in Latin as "defixiones" and used by people in ancient times as a means of communicating with their gods, stated the Greek Reporter. Thin pieces of metal are inscribed with a curse or desire and nailed into graves or wells to throw the spell at their desired target with divine intervention. Of the several tablets unearthed, one discovered between the legs of a male skeleton in grave F2199, together with a flattened vase and several coins, had been of particular interest to the excavators.

Certain characteristics of the cemetery marked it apart from the usual type of Roman burials of this period. It did not contain women or children, and there was also a total absence of any cremation burials. Traces of painted wooden coffins further distinguished these graves, and it led the researchers from the Orléans Archaeology Service to suggest that these men might have belonged to a particular professional guild or social group.

One of the curse tablets was deciphered by Pierre-Yves Lambert, a specialist in Celtic linguistics with the French National Center for Scientific Research. The text, in Latin and Gaulish, was dedicated to "Mars Rigisamu"—in English, "Mars the Royal," the Roman god of war, according to All Thats Interesting. It contained a named list of those targeted by the curse for their so-called unfair dealings, one of the rare insights into ancient grievances and social conflicts.

Preserving and studying such fragile artifacts had to be carried out using sophisticated techniques. Specialists treated the fragile lead with chemical treatments to prevent corrosion, and reflectance transformation imaging technology helped them create clear images of the unrolled tablets. Using X-ray tomography, researchers are now investigating a second folded tablet without physically unrolling it in the hope of revealing its hidden message.

This find is peculiarly important to linguists due to the utmost rarity of examples in written Gaulish. Although the language survived for many centuries following the Roman conquest, it was rarely written down. These lead tablets provide a unique insight into this lost Celtic language and the complex cultural relations between Roman and Gallic civilizations, according to All Thats Interesting. With the excavation due to conclude at the end of January 2025, researchers are preparing for extensive laboratory analysis of all materials recovered, stated Greek Reporter. The results of these investigations promise to cast light not only on the funerary practices but also on the complex relationships between language, religion, and social justice in Gaul during the Roman period.