Archaeologists unearth rare religious artifacts, jewels from tombs in 700-year-old church

Archaeologists in France have unearthed rare religious artefacts and jewels from 230 tombs that were discovered during an exploration of a 700-year-old church, the Miami Herald reported.

The Jacobin church, consecrated in 1250, was restored in 1344 after it caught fire. According to researchers, the western half of the church was well preserved.

Upon searching the 230 tombs, it was discovered that 85% of the tombs were single tombs, while 15% were masonry vaults. The joint tombs had more than one individual buried; the most number of remains found in one vault is 17.

From the tombs, rare jewellery and rare religious artefacts have been discovered, providing an insight into the lives of the people who lived 700 years before us.

The finds include copper pins, which were used to hold shrouds, rings, bracelets, rosaries and crucifixes.

Experts also found a rare skull-shaped object made of bone. "It's unlike any other discovery,"  they said.

In many tombs, the deceased were found with religious artefacts either in their hand or on their torso, prompting researchers to believe that the deaths may have been caused by an infectious disease.

The tombs were found in various parts of the church, including in the extension that was built in the 15th century.

The church is in Morlaix, 330km away from Paris, in western France.