French officials have made a significant archaeological discovery: a 16th-century gallows, once used to display executed prisoners as a warning, has been unearthed in Grenoble. This find, revealed in December 2024 but completed earlier that year, was uncovered by the National Preventive Archeology Agency (Inrap), which was conducting research ahead of some redevelopment in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The gallows, constructed during the Protestant Reformation, was meant for those who opposed the monarchy, particularly Protestants. Archaeologists highlighted figures like Benoit Croix, who faced accusations of involvement in an attack on Grenoble in 1573, and Charles du Puy Montblanc, a Huguenot leader executed in 1575 and displayed at the site.
Initially, the team mistook the structure for a religious building until they determined its grim purpose of showcasing the bodies of the executed. They found a rectangular masonry framework alongside ten burial pits from the same era. The tombs contained at least 32 individuals, primarily men, often interred in pairs or small groups.
This particular gallows dates back to 1544 and includes eight stone pillars, a design indicating royal rather than feudal authority. Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse, a researcher at Inrap, noted that such finds are rare in France. He mentioned that the gallows’ square design and its eight columns indicate its significant role in the criminal justice system of the time.
Despite their rarity now, gallows were once commonplace across Europe. Each criminal court could maintain its own gallows, either under royal oversight, as in the case of Grenoble, or within the jurisdiction of local lords. Many of the burials at this site appeared to have been executed without much regard for ceremony, raising further inquiries for researchers.
Ultimately, this excavation reveals vital information not just about historical punishment practices but also offers insights into funeral traditions and societal perceptions of death. Minvielle-Larousse expressed hope that the research would contribute to a deeper understanding of past and present cultural attitudes toward death and the afterlife.
