Archaeologists in France have discovered the remains of a 16th-century gallows where bodies of the condemned were displayed after thay were hanged. The corpses of the men – and a few women – were then buried in mass graves nearby.
During an excavation just outside the city of Grenoble in 2024, archaeologists with the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) found a square brick structure and 10 burial pits dating to the 16th century, INRAP announced on Friday (Dec. 12).
These discoveries initially baffled archaeologists, who thought the structure and burials might have been part of a leper colony, a Catholic chapel graveyard or a military cemetery. But the archaeologists looked at past construction records that showed a timber-framed gallows, which led them to conclude they had found Grenoble’s public execution area.
An aerial view of the partially excavated gallows structure, with an exc
16th-Century Gallows and Mass Graves Uncovered in Grenoble, France Reveal Brutal Justice System
Archaeologists in Grenoble, France, have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved gallows structure and associated mass burial pits, shedding light on the harsh realities of justice and punishment during the 16th and early 17th centuries. The findings offer a chilling glimpse into the fate of those who challenged royal authority during a period of intense religious and political conflict.
The newly discovered gallows was capable of displaying the bodies of up to eight individuals simultaneously, serving as a stark warning to the populace. Excavations revealed two mass burial pits containing the remains of 32 people, the majority of whom were men. Historical records have identified two of those executed and buried in the pits: Benoît croyet, a Protestant accused of involvement in the 1573 attack on Grenoble, and Charles Du Puy Montbrun, a leader of the Huguenots in the Dauphiné region, executed in 1575. Both men were condemned for rebelling against the crown.
According to the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP),the manner of burial was itself a continuation of the punishment. “Burying a condemned person in this way was a means of prolonging the sentence pronounced during their lifetime into death; the individuals found during the excavations were therefore deliberately denied burial,” a translated statement from INRAP explains. Further adding to the brutality, some of the remains exhibited evidence of “shameful treatment” after death, including dismemberment and decapitation – practices intended to further degrade and dishonor the condemned.
The revelation provides valuable insight into historical places of justice and the methods employed to enforce royal authority. The gallows appears to have fallen out of use in the early 17th century, likely due to evolving political and religious landscapes.
Further Research confirms:
* Charles Du Puy Montbrun: As reported by Executed Today,Charles Du Puy Montbrun was indeed a prominent huguenot leader executed in 1575 for his role in resisting royal forces. (https://www.executedtoday.com/2015/08/13/1575-charles-du-puy-montbrun-unequal/)
* Religious Wars in France: The 16th century in France was marked by intense religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots), frequently enough involving armed uprisings and brutal repression.The executions of Croyet and Montbrun are representative of this period.
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