Two skeletons unearthed at Saint-Gilles building site

A surprise find for workers in Parvis de Saint-Gilles: two complete skeletons, believed to be 300 years old.

As part of the refurbishment of the pedestrianised market square, they were digging holes to plant trees in front of the Brasserie Verschueren when they came across the bones 1 metre below, on Wednesday. A team of archaeologists from Brussels city heritage department was dispatched to the site and is now excavating the remains.

Archaeologist Sylvianne Modrie told L’Avenir newspaper that it was no great surprise to discover the skeletons as they were found close to the church, which would have once been surrounded by a cemetery. She explained that pottery retrieved at the site dated from turn of the 18th century, which meant the human remains were probably of the same period.

Modrie said that the skulls had already been removed as they were quite valuable. The two skeletons will be fully examined to determine their sex, age and health, providing an insight into life in the commune during this period. She thought that they were probably two people relatively well-off because burial close to the church was expensive.

Following examination, the archaeologists hope the remains will be reburied in the church.