During construction for a new high-speed rail link near Amiens, workers stumbled upon the foundations of a 2nd-century Roman military camp. Subsequent excavations have revealed a remarkably intact set of cavalry barracks, complete with stables and personal gear such as bronze horse-harness fittings and iron spearheads. Most surprising to archaeologists was the discovery of a subterranean Mithraeum—a temple dedicated to the mystery cult of Mithras—hidden directly beneath the barracks floor.
The sanctuary contains a stunning stone relief of the god Mithras slaying a bull, still bearing traces of its original polychrome paint. Professor Elise Duvernay of the Sorbonne noted that the find provides rare insight into the spiritual lives of Roman frontier soldiers, suggesting that the cult was deeply integrated into the daily military routine of the northern provinces.