Archaeologists’ ‘Unique’ Dig Finds More Than 1,000 Skeletons at Abbey Site

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A "unique" excavation project in France is casting light on the fascinating 800-year history of an abbey where researchers have uncovered more than 1,000 human skeletons, among numerous other finds. The remains of the Abbey of Beaumont are in the city center of Tours, which lies in the country's Loire Valley region. Historical sources indicate that the abbey was founded in A.D. 1002 as a religious establishment for Benedictine nuns. It remained in operation for eight centuries until around 1790 when it was confiscated by revolutionaries who expelled the Benedictines. The confiscation occurred during the French Revolution, which took place...