Just a few steps from the shoreline and 150 meters west of the ancient settlement of Olbia, a preventive excavation led by the archaeological service of the Var Department and INRAP has uncovered a vast Roman necropolis dating from the 1st to the 3rd century AD.

No fewer than 160 to 170 cremation structures are currently being excavated over an area of 800 sq.m. Nearby, other funerary zones identified through diagnostic surveys in 2022 and 2023 to the north and northwest of the ancient city walls suggest that an even larger space dedicated to the dead extended along a Roman coastal road that likely led toward the city of Toulon (Telo Martius). Olbia, a fortified colony founded by the Massaliotes (from Marseille) in the last quarter of the 4th century BC, was continuously inhabited until the mid-6th century AD. During the period of this funerary complex, the port settlement of Olbia was administratively part of the Roman colony of Arles, which stretched along the coast from the Camargue to Hyères.

Roman Funerary Practices in Olbia

In this necropolis, only one funerary practice is attested: cremation. The body of the deceased was placed on a pyre built above a quadrangular pit, surrounded by pottery and personal items intended to accompany them into the afterlife. The intense heat of the fire, fanned by air, reddened the walls of the pit into which the logs collapsed, leaving visible traces of the ceremony. The bones whitened, twisted, and cracked, but remain identifiable by archaeologists and anthropologists. Glass objects—mostly perfume bottles—as well as bronze items, melted; ceramic vessels burned.

Once the pyre was extinguished, a series of actions took place, of which material traces remain. For example, some pyres were reused as burial sites, as evidenced by the placement of a few unburnt offerings. Others were partially emptied, with the cremation remains deposited into pits. The presence of human bones helps identify a tomb. These graves, sometimes marked on the surface with sandstone blocks, were either dug directly into the rock or just slightly above it.

Unburnt items such as glass perfume bottles, vases, etc., were placed in these burials. A unique feature of Olbia is that most of these graves were topped with libation conduits for pouring liquid offerings (wine, beer, mead) to honor or protect the deceased. Perfume, coins, lamps, and libations could also be offerings to deities. These makeshift libation conduits were mostly made from amphorae, indicating Olbia’s maritime trade connections.

Some areas appear to have been used for commemorative purposes, marked by deliberately broken tableware. Another unique feature: instead of placing the bones in urns made of glass, ceramic, stone, or lead, they could be poured directly into the grave, heaped in small piles, or stored in containers. Do these differences reflect social or cultural distinctions? These findings highlight that ancient funerary rites were rich, varied, and carried multiple meanings—many of which remain mysterious today.

Example of a Pyre Grave in Hyères

A pyre grave includes various architectural elements that reflect the main stages of cremation and social practices toward the dead. The walls of the grave are reddened, indicating they were exposed to fire and thus used to hold the pyre. A central deepening allowed airflow during cremation. The presence of nails among the burned bones may indicate a wooden structure that supported the body (a platform, stretcher, or bed).

Once the cremation was complete, a jug and two small pots were placed in the pit on the remains of the pyre. These items show no trace of heat or fire, suggesting the pyre was extinguished before they were deposited. After burning the body and placing the grave goods, the grave was closed, and the cremated remains were protected. Like a roof, a cover made of flat and half-round tiles was installed.

Finally, during the final sealing of the grave, the pit was partially filled in—at least near the deceased’s head—to hold two upright half-round tiles forming a libation conduit, as well as a small cup placed next to one of the tiles.