The Saint-Jacques necropolis

In the Early Empire, Lutetia had several necropoli. Only the largest one, located south of the city, has been identified. The site is now occupied by the Abbey of Port Royal, and the necropolis was located in the area bordered by Boulevard Saint-Michel, Avenue Denfert-Rochereau and the Rue Saint-Jacques. Following a well-established tradition, tombs were placed along a road-in this case the cardo maximus-outside of the city. Later, the necropolis was extended to the south, west and north, where an unbuilt zone separated it from the houses at the edges of the city.

At the height of the Empire, the necropolis was fairly large: about 4 hectares. However, only a small number of the burial and cremation tombs have been found. A study of the tombs shows that it was in use from the early 1st century to the 3rd century, and started to be abandoned during the 4th century.