Dominique Garcia: "Archaeology allows us to provide benchmarks"

From June 16 to 18, a thousand events (open house sites, exhibitions, archeology villages, workshops for children, etc.) will be offered to the public. Interview with Dominique Garcia, archaeologist and president of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap).

LE FIGARO. - What drives the French passion for archaeology?

Regardless of the state of the public's historical knowledge, these local discoveries made by experts at their feet have the gift of federating. Archeology is a gateway to ancient history, and allows, like ancient heritage, to provide landmarks and a common language. At a time when everyone moves and circulates a lot, it is far from useless. From a very contemporary point of view, one perceives in front of an excavation site to what extent life is made of sediments. Buried habitats are proof that nothing lasts forever: isn't that a strong message, in the midst of climate change?

What do we owe to archeology recently?

Difficult to summarize, because archeology is a science in progress. We know, however, that soil archives renew knowledge over the long term and in all territories. In recent decades, by digging into the DOM-TOMs, we have advanced those on the sensitive and cruel history, very little documented, of slavery. In several cities, the discovery of medieval Jewish heritage elements, including ritual baths, helps to flesh out the story of the Jewish presence in France. With our colleagues from the department and the city of Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), we have just excavated the basilica of the kings of France, in the wake of the work for the reconstruction of an arrow, we brought to light more than 200 tombs dating from the Merovingian and Carolingian periods. Throughout France, we are carrying out 2000 construction sites, and we are not at the end of surprises.

In 2022, Inrap experts made unexpected discoveries at Notre-Dame de Paris...

This is one of the virtues of the major restoration work launched on the cathedral. Before the fire of Notre-Dame de Paris, we knew little about the building from a scientific point of view. We excavated for many months, exhumed several sarcophagi of former religious dignitaries, which are being studied in laboratories. Above all, we unearthed 400 fragments of the old, little-known 13th century rood screen. Pessimists will say that at some point, the scaffolding for the spire had to be given way, and the excavation site terminated - which means that there are still many fragments in the ground. Optimists, including myself, know that we have already contributed to a revival of the cathedral and that we will find ways to continue research after it reopens, in the parts that were not affected by the fire. And then, these medieval fragments will no doubt feed museum collections and tell little-known chapters in the history of Notre-Dame.

Are there still undiscovered areas?

Certain ancient heritages, including Gallic farms, are now well documented. But archeology has some blind spots, including the centers of our towns, the large so-called primary forests or the glaciers, difficult to search par excellence, but also the coast. Seasides are increasingly destroyed by the consequences of climate change, and we do not always have the time or the opportunity to search. The sites linked to the two world wars or the former large industrial sites still need to be cleared.

Inrap intervenes upstream of works. Don't tell me that some elected officials or real estate developers don't take a dim view of you...

Yes, but the tensions are less and less intense. Everywhere in France, roundabouts, ZACs, buildings or shopping centers are being built. We artificialize 700 km2 per year in France. In 8% of cases, on state prescription, we carry out surveys and in 2% of cases, we end up conducting excavations prior to the site. Our excavations are carried out prior to development; I notice that when this is the case, our construction sites often make it possible to make the work acceptable to the inhabitants. Instead of being simply a nuisance, even a temporary one, they are transformed into a promise of discoveries, and public opinion is attentive to this. Knowing that the past exists under one's feet and that it is respected encourages elected officials and promoters to play the game. This is the virtuous paradox of excavations.

The recent affair around menhirs allegedly razed to make room for a large surface, in Carnac, shows that passions are always quick to arise!

The affair caused a scandal in part because we spoke of alignment of menhirs and not of megaliths, which would have been fairer. However, the word menhir refers not only to the great mythical alignments of Ménec, but also to the fetish object of Obélix. We come back to what we said: archeology is a science that is based on familiar objects, and manages to speak to everyone thanks to that. A monument like a menhir gives everyone a feeling of eternity, even though the French feel the fragility of things, and rightly perceive that nothing is eternal. If there is a lesson to be learned from the media frenzy around Carnac, it is that heritage has become a value, and a cement of society. You cannot touch it with impunity.