French archaeologists recently discovered the remains of an American hospital dating back to World War I in Savenay, France. The hospital had been built to provide medical care for American soldiers without having to rely on French hospitals. The hospitals were strategically placed near the ports of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire for easy access to main French rail lines.
The hospital, which had been reduced to rubble, was part of a network of hospital structures built across France during World War I. Several hundred hospital structures were constructed, ranging from simple field hospitals to larger facilities capable of accommodating up to 25,000 injured and sick individuals. The site in Savenay was divided into two distinct parts, with one being a fenced area to protect the hospital and the other consisting of 20 “dump pits” holding construction waste and artifacts.
Archaeologists excavating the site found a variety of artifacts, including medical bottles, combs, buttons, a smoking pipe, a medical clamp, a razor, a watch case, various cups, and a pair of shoes. They also found evidence of a water pipe network that provided clean water to the hospital complex. The dump pits contained mostly construction waste, indicating a level of homogeneity in the digging and filling process.
The American hospital complexes during World War I were described as “real autonomous cities,” with their own sewer networks and sometimes even a railway service. The excavation site in Savenay provided an opportunity for students to learn about preventive archaeology. INRAP, the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research, highlighted the research perspectives offered by the excavation and announced an exhibition about the project.
The first American soldiers, known as “sammies,” arrived in France in June 1917, with the hospital complex serving as a crucial part of the medical infrastructure during World War I. The hospitals were connected by ambulances and medical trains to facilitate the transport of injured and sick individuals. The discovery of the American hospital in Savenay sheds light on the efforts made to provide medical care to soldiers during the war and offers valuable insights into the history of medical facilities during this time period.
INRAP used the excavation as an opportunity to engage high school students in learning about archaeology. The organization emphasized the importance of preserving and studying archaeological remains to better understand the past. The exhibition planned by INRAP as a result of the excavation will showcase the findings from the site and provide more information about the American hospital complex discovered in Savenay. Fox News Digital contacted INRAP for further comments on the excavation and its significance.
