Lombard Royal Tombs Discovered in Pavia – History Blog

Archaeologists from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart have discovered more than 20 tombs of early medieval Lombard royalty under a 15th-century cloister in Pavia. Most of the tombs are stone boxes with tile roofs, some with flat roofs and some with gables. The interior of one of the oldest tombs is decorated with a huge red cross. The terracotta-roofed tomb dates back to the seventh century.

In 568, the Lombards, led by King Alboin, invaded Italy and quickly occupied most of northern Italy, but Pavia was well-defended and had extraordinary combat effectiveness. Alboin’s troops besieged it for three years, while he occupied Italy from the Alps to Tuscany, except for a few major cities (including Rome). Pavia finally fell in 572 and became the capital of the Lombard Kingdom until 774.

The Lombards were Christians when they invaded Italy, but like many Germanic peoples they were Arian, not Catholic. They built many Arian churches in Pavia during the first 80 years of their rule. However, Aripel I was a devout Catholic dedicated to spreading his faith, and during his short reign (653-661), most Lombards converted to Catholicism. In 657 he built the first church on the site of what is now the Cathedral of Santisimo Salvador as a mausoleum for himself, his sons and nephews. This was the first Lombard tomb and was used by the royal family until the beginning of the eighth century.

The church and associated monastery were rebuilt from scratch in the 10th century by Adelaide, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, and then completely rebuilt again in the second half of the 15th century. The small cloister attached to the church was built between 1460 and 1470. It is believed that the tombs of the Lombard kings of the Bavarian dynasty are buried there.

The diocese commissioned archaeologists from the Catholic University to excavate the cloisters in search of early medieval tombs believed to exist there. Geophysical surveys and other tests revealed the presence of well-preserved medieval burials. In September and October 2024, a team of archaeologists excavated the southern half of the cloister and unearthed stone and tile tombs from the 7th-century Lombard royal court. Samples of human remains have been collected for isotope and DNA analysis to investigate the deceased’s diet, geographical origins and any familial links between them.

Additionally, collaboration with German institutions will allow researchers to explore the ancient DNA of the remains, potentially revealing whether the remains are entirely local or linked to populations of northern European origin recorded in other Lombard cemeteries in Italy.

These studies promise to shed light on the biological, social and cultural makeup of Lombard Pavia, providing unprecedented insights into its daily life and social organization.