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Medieval treasure unearthed at Cluny Abbey

 

The influential Benedictine Abbey of Cluny has been gone since the French Revolution, but a portion of its treasure has just come to light with the discovery of a trove of gold and silver coins from the 12th century.

The abbey, noted for its leadership of church reforms under Pope Gregory and as a leader among European monasteries, was at the height of its influence then, and had outposts in several countries and in Paris. The find includes over 2,000 gold and silver coins.

Most of the abbey buildings were destroyed in 1793, and their stones re-used by local builders. A team of archaeologists from the University of Lyon and the French National Center for Scientific Research made the find while trying to identify the outlines of the abbey's one-time infirmary.

The find included coins minted at the abbey itself, as well as coins from the Middle East, a signet ring and other items. As valuable as the find is, historically and monetarily, "in terms of the running of the abbey it's not that much, amounting to about six days of supply of bread and wine," according to one of the researchers.

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