Three medieval graves, discovered during excavations in the city of Nîmes in the south of France, can serve as proof that Muslims lived in this area already in the 8th century. This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted by specialists from the French National Institute for Archaeological Research and the University of Bordeaux.
Until now, scientists have insufficient data in order to confidently assert whether Muslims lived north of the Iberian Peninsula during the early Middle Ages. However, according to the researchers, the find serves as a strong argument in favor of a positive answer to this question, reports EurekAlert.
Scientists have noticed that the skeletons are buried in the Muslim tradition - in particular, this is evidenced by the location of the bodies: they lie with their head in the direction of Mecca. Also, genetic analysis indicated the North African origin of the buried - it also increases the likelihood that they professed exactly Islam.
Radiocarbon dating made it possible to find out that the burial appeared in the 7th-19th centuries. Taking into account other information, the researchers concluded that the buried belonged to the Berbers - indigenous people of North Africa who converted to Islam in the 7th century, who joined the army of the Arab Umayyad dynasty.
In all likelihood, the discovered graves indicate that in the 8th century the south of modern France for a short time was under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate, which during this period pursued an aggressive policy of conquest.
Experts say that they have discovered one of the first evidences of such a long-standing presence of Muslims in the south of France. Scientific research published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Dmitry Istrov