French archaeologists recently discovered the remains of an American hospital dating from the First World War.
In a press release in French translated into English, the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) explains that the camp was discovered at Gagnerie du Tertre, located in the commune of Savenay.
Savenay is located in the Pays de la Loire region of northwest France.
The recently excavated hospital, reduced to ruins, was built so that Americans would no longer need to depend on French hospitals, explains the May 16 press release.
“Connected by ambulances and medical trains, several hundred hospital structures (were) under construction across the country, ranging from simple field hospitals to vast (structures capable of) accommodating up to 25,000 (people) injured and sick,” explained INRAP.
The hospitals were strategically placed near the ports of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire to facilitate connection to the main French railway lines.
The first “sammies”, or American soldiers, arrived in France in June 1917.
Images published by INRAP show that archaeologists found medical bottles, combs, buttons and even a pipe during the excavations.
Medical tweezers, a razor, a watch case and various dishes were also found, as well as a pair of shoes.
The site was divided into two distinct parts.
One of them was a fenced area built to protect the hospital. Another consisted of 20 “dumps” containing both construction waste and artifacts.
Archaeologists have found evidence of a network of water pipes that provided clean water.
INRAP explains that similar American hospital complexes operate as “true self-contained cities,” developing individual sewer systems and sometimes even having their own rail service.
“(The landfill pits) demonstrate a certain homogeneity, both in their digging and in their filling, composed mainly of construction waste,” explains the translated press release.
“The pits located outside the camp yielded the majority of archaeological furniture.”
INRAP took advantage of these excavations to raise awareness among high school students about preventive archaeology.
According to the organization, the archaeological digs offer “many research perspectives” and an exhibition on the project will be unveiled on Thursday.
Fox News Digital has contacted INRAP for comment.
New York Post
