Around 200 skeletons have been unearthed under a Paris supermarket after workmen extending the shop 's basement discovered a huge pile of bones . The bodies , which were found neatly stacked five deep in eight underground chambers , are thought to be victims of an epidemic that struck France at least five centuries ago . Archaeologists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research ( INRAP ) were called in to take a look and have spent days tirelessly uncovering the bones . Around 200 skeletons have been unearthed under a small Paris supermarket after workmen extending the shop 's basement discovered a huge pile of bones . They found seven chambers containing around 20 skeletons each and a further chamber that had another 150 . Pascal Roy , store manager of the Monoprix supermarket , said that the shop had been built on the site of the old Trinité hospital , which functioned from as early as the 12th century . He said : 'We figured there 'd be a few bones there considering it used to be the site of a cemetery , but we did n't expect to find mass graves . ' But other experts have said the bodies might have been placed there when more than six-million corpses were moved to the Paris Catacombs from the city 's cemeteries 200 years ago . Archaeologists are slowly and delicately uncovering the skeletons and attaching numbers to them . Above are skeletons 159 , 157 and 162 . The bodies are thought to be victims of an epidemic that struck France at least five centuries ago - perhaps the plague or a famine . They were neatly stacked five deep in eight underground chambers . Seven of the chambers contained 20 skeletons and one contained more than 150 . Experts called the site 'extraordinary ' and said they were astonished to find so many skeletons in one place . They said : 'The fact that the skeletons were so closely packed together in a mass grave suggests that they were the victims of an epidemic like the plague , which struck France throughout the 14th , 15th and 16th centuries . 'The grave provides an excellent opportunity to learn about how death was managed and how funerary practices were carried out centuries ago . ' Isabelle Abadie , an archaeologist , added that it was particularly interesting because the bodies were not thrown into the graves , suggesting that they might have been placed head to toe to save space . Pascal Roy , store manager of the Monoprix supermarket ( left ) , said that the shop had been built on the site of the old Trinité hospital , which functioned from as early as the 12th century . Archaeologists are pictured ( right ) starting the work . Experts called the site 'extraordinary ' and said they were astonished to find so many skeletons in one place . One archaeologist pictured above carefully bags up any smaller bits of bone . Archaeologists put pieces of medieval ceramics into small plastic bags , as well as pottery from modern times and any other finds . The archaeologists use particular tools to excavate their site including a small shovel , a variety of brushes and sometimes a garden hoe . Fragments of medieval ceramics were also found among the bones , along with pottery dating from this century . The archaeologists on site will now carry out carbon and DNA testing on the bones to find out more and will then be able to more accurately date the find . After the testing is completed the remains will be taken away and studied . The state will take charge of their final resting place . The discovery comes weeks after 15 skeletons were found in a unique Romano-British settlement in Ipplepen , Devon . The remains of two skeletons buried together in Diros Caves , Greece , were also unearthed in 2013 and were analysed to show they were 6,000 years old around two weeks ago . It is thought the bodies might have been placed there after more than six-million corpses were moved to the Paris Catacombs from the city 's cemeteries 200 years ago . Experts said : 'The grave provides an excellent opportunity to learn about how death was managed and how funerary practices were carried out centuries ago ' It is amazing to see the skeletons in their full form , with some of the only bones missing being the lower legs and feet . The archaeologists , who wear masks while carrying out the dusty work , will now carry out carbon and DNA testing on the bones to find out more . They will then be able to more accurately date the find . After the testing is completed the remains will be studied before the state takes charge of their final resting place .
Skeletons found under the Monoprix supermarket on Boulevard Sébastopol in Paris . believed to be victims of an epidemic that struck France at least five centuries ago . Archaeologists were called in and will try to locate the bones using carbon and carbon dating . Experts called site ' extraordinary ' and said they were astonished to find so many bones .