French authorities have uncovered a long-buried secret from France's tumultuous past: a 16th-century gallows in Grenoble where rebels were publicly executed and left on display as a warning to others. The discovery, made by Inrap, the French national institution for preventive archaeology, is shedding new light on the royal justice system during the Protestant Reformation.
The site, which dates back to at least 1544, was originally thought to be a religious building but turned out to be a gallows where condemned prisoners were put on display as a gruesome warning to others. Archaeologists discovered a square structure with ten burial pits from the 16th century, containing at least 32 individuals – mostly men, with a few women – who were often buried together in groups.
The site is particularly notable for its eight stone pillars, which signified it was under royal jurisdiction and administered by the Parliament of the Dauphiné. Researchers believe that gallows like this one would have been common in Europe during the early modern era but are rare to find in France.
Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse, a researcher with Inrap, said that excavated examples of medieval gallows "remain rare" in France. The Grenoble gallows stands out for its square plan and eight pillars, which reflects its high status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom.
The discovery has provided valuable insights into anthropological reflections on mortuary practices in past societies, with researchers asking questions such as: What constitutes a 'good' or 'bad' death? How did earthly condemnation relate to beliefs about the afterlife?
The gallows site is set to shed new light on France's complex and often bloody history, particularly during the 16th century.
The site, which dates back to at least 1544, was originally thought to be a religious building but turned out to be a gallows where condemned prisoners were put on display as a gruesome warning to others. Archaeologists discovered a square structure with ten burial pits from the 16th century, containing at least 32 individuals – mostly men, with a few women – who were often buried together in groups.
The site is particularly notable for its eight stone pillars, which signified it was under royal jurisdiction and administered by the Parliament of the Dauphiné. Researchers believe that gallows like this one would have been common in Europe during the early modern era but are rare to find in France.
Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse, a researcher with Inrap, said that excavated examples of medieval gallows "remain rare" in France. The Grenoble gallows stands out for its square plan and eight pillars, which reflects its high status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom.
The discovery has provided valuable insights into anthropological reflections on mortuary practices in past societies, with researchers asking questions such as: What constitutes a 'good' or 'bad' death? How did earthly condemnation relate to beliefs about the afterlife?
The gallows site is set to shed new light on France's complex and often bloody history, particularly during the 16th century.
i was browsing through old documentaries last night and stumbled upon a vid about medieval torture devices and it got me thinking... how did people even live with these things on display? like, isn't that just super messed up? 
anyway, i'm glad they're uncovering more info about this part of history... it's crazy to think about how our understanding of justice & human rights has evolved
[GIF of a person jumping off a cliff, with a shocked expression]
to think about all those ppl who were buried together like was it a ritual or somethin? anyway I wish we had more resources in school like history museums with interactive exhibits so we can learn about this stuff without having to resort to digging up ancient sites 
. can't help but feel a chill every time I think about those 32 people buried together 
It's not every day you get to walk on the steps of history and feel the weight (literally) of someone's last days. The fact that it was just left out in the open like a gruesome warning sign is just, wow... no need for all that fancy execution business, right? 
Also, can we talk about how awesome it is that they finally found something that proves gallows weren't as rare as everyone thought? I mean, it's not like we've been missing out on some epic history lesson or anything. 
? i used to play that one all day when i was a kid lol i wonder how many ppl in history actually got beheaded 
anyway back to france... did u know that the french have an awesome patisserie culture 
i mean, who needs politics when u can just eat croissants and talk about your feelings 
anyway gotta give props to Inrap for finding this hidden gem 
️ #FrenchHistory #GallowsOfGrenoble #PastSocietiesMortuaryPractices
I mean, we think our justice system is pretty harsh today, but this... this is on another level. It's like, a grim reminder that some things never change, no matter how much progress we make 
. It's like, we need to know about this stuff if we want to learn from our mistakes and build a better future 
️ it's like something out of a horror movie! but seriously, this discovery is giving me all the feels - it's like archaeologists have uncovered a piece of history that was meant to be forgotten. i love how they're shedding light on the royal justice system back then and the gruesome ways people were executed 
. And now we're learning more about how people were treated during that time... it's crazy to think about how different things were, you know? 
. Like, those people who were executed and left on display as a warning... poor souls 
.
. Anyway, it's definitely a fascinating find and I'll be keeping an eye on this one