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Archaeologists believe they have finally solved the mystery behind an ancient lead coffin found beneath Notre-Dame Cathedral. Find out what this discovery reveals about the site's hidden past!
In 2022, archaeologists made a stunning discovery during excavations at Notre-Dame Cathedral: two lead coffins hidden beneath the church nave. Lead is a material known to preserve bodies by preventing decomposition, and historically, it was reserved for the elite.
The first major revelation came in December 2022, when an inscription on one of the coffins identified its occupant as Antoine de la Porte, a priest who died in 1710 at the age of 83.
This discovery was important, but the second coffin continued to intrigue archaeologists. The body was that of a man in his 30s, who researchers nicknamed “the knight” due to a bone deformity that suggested he spent a lot of time riding horses.
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© Denis Gliksman / INRAP
After nearly two years of detailed research, experts believe the knight could be the famous French Renaissance poet Joachim du Bellay, who died in 1560.
Du Bellay was known for his horsemanship, but he also suffered from serious health problems, such as tuberculosis, which limited his activities. Eric Crubézy, an anthropologist at the University of Toulouse III, mentioned that the poet rode from Paris to Rome, an impressive journey, especially considering his fragile condition. Physics.
The skeleton found beneath Notre-Dame showed signs of chronic meningitis caused by tuberculosis of the bone, a condition that matches du Bellay's own health reports. Furthermore, the poet's family had close connections with the royal court and the pope, which makes it plausible that he was buried at Notre-Dame.
Evidence and doubts about du Bellay's identity
While there are many clues linking the skeleton to the poet, not all experts are completely convinced. An isotopic analysis of the knight's teeth indicated that he grew up in the Paris or Lyon regions, while du Bellay was born in Anjou.
This could be a contradiction, but Crubézy argues that du Bellay spent much of his childhood under the care of his uncle, Jean du Bellay, Bishop of Paris, which could explain this discrepancy.
Dominique Garcia, president of the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), believes the evidence is convincing enough to link the Knight a du Bellay. He points out that, based on the age and health conditions of the skeleton, the identification presents remarkable statistical solidity.
However, he also points out that definitive confirmation could only be made with DNA testing, something that has not yet been done.
In addition to the discovery of the coffins, excavations at Notre-Dame following the 2019 fire also revealed more than 1.000 fragments of the cathedral's cross screen, a medieval architectural element that separated the choir from the nave.
Some of these fragments still show traces of colored paint, which will allow for detailed restoration of the original structure. The cathedral is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024, more than five years after the fire that destroyed part of its structure.
So, as Notre-Dame prepares to reopen its doors, these archaeological discoveries continue to shed light on the rich history of this iconic monument and the individuals who have left their mark on the cathedral over the centuries.
