How could we imagine that under the city stadium and the center of the La Madeleine district of Albi there was a cemetery used for almost 200 years?
The story begins in the winter of 2009-2010, when a man living on boulevard Alsace-Lorraine reported that workers working on the site of the future Madeleine neighborhood center were passing by human bones and piling them in a corner of the site.
The mechanical excavator, which excavated almost a meter of earth, revealed dozens of graves, some of which were modified by the bucket. The city hall services as well as the competent archaeological services are immediately notified.
Daniel Schaad, archaeologist and newly appointed head of DRAC for the Tarn department, travels and observes the facts.
The construction site was stopped by the town hall. Rapid surveys are being carried out to assess the extent of the site and the preservation of the tombs in order to protect it and continue construction work.
Christophe Mendygral, today co-president of the Departmental Council of Tarn Archeology (CDAT) was present then. He tells us “It's always impressive to see a cemetery come out from under our feet, even if the location was known. The site has been preserved and buried under the new equipment, and perhaps one day the archaeologists of the future will work on these graves.”
“Archaeology is everywhere!”
This is also archaeology. Preserve known sites to leave to future generations. Christophe Mendygral adds “the excavation is above any destruction. When we excavate a site, it is necessarily destroyed in order to understand the different levels and be able to interpret them. »
On the site of the old Madeleine cemetery, 28 graves were unearthed. They were carefully aligned and regularly spaced, showing careful management of burial space. The entire deep sepulchral layer was the object of a conservation measure.
The cemetery was in operation from the 17th century until 1873, when it was decided to move it to Pratgraussals away from rampant urbanism.
The Tarn Departmental Council of Archeology with its three employees and volunteers contributes to various missions within the department. Christophe Mendygral tells us “our actions revolve around some major axes, namely: the inventory and protection of the archaeological heritage, the preservation and promotion of the archaeological collections, the support for the dissemination of knowledge, the support of research and the support of communities.
From Viaur to the limits of Mont Noire, passing through the plains of Lautrecois or the Tarn valley, the CDAT watches over its territory because, as its president says so well, “the remains of the soil are infinite, archeology is everywhere! “.