Archaeologists find unusual graves with remains of 18 Celtic "warriors" from 2,400 years ago from the Iron Age buried sitting in France, and signs on the bones point to violent deaths.

Archaeologists find unusual graves with remains of 18 Celtic “warriors” from 2,400 years ago from the Iron Age buried sitting in France, and signs on the bones point to violent deaths.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 05/06/2026 at 15:40

Updated on 05/06/2026 at 15:41

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Excavation in Dijon revealed 18 Celtic men buried sitting about 2,400 years ago, with aligned graves, signs of violent deaths, and indications of a funeral ritual reserved for specific groups

Eighteen Celtic men were found buried in a sitting position in Dijon, France, in a discovery made next to a primary school between 2025 and 2026. The burials, dated to the end of the Iron Age, drew attention for their rarity, the organization of the graves, and signs of violent deaths.

Graves of Celtic warriors found — The burial of a seated individual, with evidence of a skull injury and a black stone bracelet around the left arm.

(Image credit: © Hervé Laganier/Inrap)

Celtic burials in an unusual position

The discovery was announced by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research, Inrap. The graves were arranged in two straight lines, with regular spacing between them.

Each grave was circular in shape and about 1 meter in diameter. The dead were placed sitting at the bottom of the structures, facing west, with their arms at their sides and legs open.

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Healthy men and signs of violence

The initial analysis indicated that all the skeletons were of physically active and healthy men. They died between the ages of 40 and 60, an age considered advanced for many ancient contexts.

Despite this, several bones showed unhealed cut marks, indicating injuries that occurred near the time of death. This data reinforces the possibility of violent deaths.

One of the skeletons was found with a black stone armband around the left elbow. The style of the accessory helped archaeologists date this man’s death between 300 and 200 B.C.

His skull showed signs of two blows caused by a sharp object, such as a sword. At least five other skeletons had cuts on the arm bones, possibly associated with combat.

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Rarity may indicate specific group

According to Inrap, seated skeletons are uncommon finds. About 50 similar graves have been identified at approximately a dozen archaeological sites in France and Switzerland.

All these cases are dated to the end of the Iron Age. The graves usually appear on the outskirts of settlements and always gather seated or crouched male skeletons.

This repetition suggests that the ritual was reserved for specific people. Among the possibilities mentioned are warriors, important ancestors, or members of political or religious elites.

Same location had Roman cemetery and medieval convent

In the same excavation, archaeologists also found a cemetery from the Roman era. It gathered 22 children’s graves dated to the 1st century A.D.

The children were buried lying on their backs or sides, in stone or wooden coffins. Some graves contained coins or pottery as funeral offerings.

After the abandonment of the Celtic and Roman cemeteries, the area began to be used for grape cultivation. In 1243, the Cordeliers convent was founded at the site by Franciscan friars.

Today, the archaeological site is located next to a primary school in Dijon, gathering remains from different periods of occupation on the same land.

This article was prepared based on information from the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research of France, Inrap, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.

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Archaeologists find unusual graves with remains of 18 Celtic “warriors” from 2,400 years ago from the Iron Age buried sitting in France, and signs on the bones point to violent deaths.