Burial pit. Credit: Sylvie Duchesne / Inrap
Archaeologists in southern France have uncovered 170 Roman funeral pyres in the ancient Greek city of Olbia, near modern-day Hyères. The excavation covers about 800 square meters (8611 square feet) and reveals rare details about Roman cremation rituals and burial practices in the region once known as Roman Gaul.
Expanding necropolis along the Mediterranean coast
Surveys carried out in 2022 and 2023 uncovered additional burial zones north and northwest of the ancient city walls. Researchers believe the necropolis once extended farther, possibly along a coastal road that connected Olbia to the Roman city of Toulon, known in antiquity as Telo Martius.
Olbia was founded by Greek settlers from Massalia, present-day Marseille, in the late 4th century B.C. The fortified city thrived for centuries, remaining occupied until the mid-6th century A.D. During the Roman period, it became part of the colony of Arles, whose influence reached across the Camargue coast to Hyères.
Evidence of exclusive cremation rituals
Archaeologists found that cremation was the only funerary practice in the necropolis. The deceased were placed on wooden pyres built above rectangular pits surrounded by pottery and personal items meant to accompany them into the afterlife.
A bronze object partially melted within the pyre. Credit: Aurélie Luciani / Inrap
The intense heat turned the pit walls red and collapsed the wooden beams inward, leaving visible traces of the burning process. Bones whitened and cracked but remained identifiable to specialists. Fragile glass perfume bottles melted, bronze objects fused, and ceramics blackened in the fire—material testimony to a ritual both destructive and symbolic.
Libation channels and maritime trade links
After the flames died down, the rituals continued. Some pyres were reused as graves, shown by unburned offerings left afterward. Others were cleared, and the cremated remains were placed in nearby pits.
A distinctive feature of Olbia’s necropolis is the use of libation channels built above many tombs. These were made from reused amphorae—large clay jars once used for maritime trade—and allowed mourners to pour offerings of wine, beer, or mead into the graves. Archaeologists also found coins, lamps, and glass vases placed as gifts to honor the dead and appease the gods.
Pyre graves reveal precise craftsmanship
One well-preserved pyre grave shows how cremations were carefully organized. The pit’s reddened walls confirm it served as the cremation site. A small central depression allowed air to circulate and feed the fire. Metal nails mixed with the ashes suggest the body was placed on a wooden frame or bed that burned with it.
Two libation conduits are placed directly on the ground. Credit: Tassadit Abdelli / Inrap
After the fire was extinguished, a jug and two small pots were set on top of the ashes. These items show no sign of burning, indicating they were added after the flames cooled. The grave was then sealed with flat and curved tiles arranged like a roof. Two tiles were placed upright to form a libation conduit with a small cup for future offerings.
A window into Roman beliefs about death
Archaeologists also identified spaces used for remembrance, marked by broken pottery and symbolic gestures. Some graves contained bones gathered in small heaps or placed in containers made of perishable material rather than in urns.
Three vases in total were placed during the transformation of the pyre into a tomb. Credit: C. Gourlet / Inrap
Researchers say these variations may reflect differences in social status, cultural traditions, or personal choice. The Roman funeral pyres of the ancient Greek city of Olbia reveal not only the technical skill of its builders but also the depth of belief and emotion that surrounded death nearly two thousand years ago.