Mass grave discovered beneath Paris supermarket

Archaeologists in Paris have made an incredible discovery. Beneath the Monoprix supermarket in central Paris, they found a mass grave that held the remains of more than 200 people.

The supermarket called the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research to inspect the ground beneath the it so they could extend its basement. They knew the Monoprix store was built on the former site of a medieval hospital, but they weren't expecting to find so many bodies.

"We've come across hospital cemeteries before, notably in Marseilles and Troyes, but it’s the first discovery of its kind in Paris. Solene Bonleu, a spokesperson for the institute, told The Guardian.

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The site included eight mass grave sections. Seven of the sections contain five to 20 bodies each, while the eighth section held more than 150 skeletons. The bodies were likely buried in the grave after a "major mortality crisis," such as an epidemic, Isabelle Abadie, who led the dig, told France24. The archaeologists believe the remains date to somewhere between the 14th and 17th centuries, and they are carbon dating the remains to determine their age. After that, the bodies will be reburied in a new location.