14th Century Lead Coffin Discovered Beneath Notre Dame

Like a scene out of a movie, the reconstruction of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral following a devastating fire in 2019 has unearthed a mystery buried deep beneath its ruin. In preparation for the rebuild, a thorough examination was conducted to ensure the construction of the floor is stable enough. A team of archeologists was deployed to check that no important things were damaged in the process.

Lo and behold, the team discovered multiple burials dating back to the 18th century beneath the church floor. One in particular was a lead sarcophagus believed to be at least 700 year old. The investigation into the sarcophagus concluded that the relatively pristine condition of the coffin indicated that the person buried inside must have been some sort of religious leader. 

The reconstruction is expected to carry out until its reopening in 2024. Until then, who knows what else lies beneath the crypt?

Image: INRAP

#archaeology #sarcophagus #coffin #NotreDame #lead

Image: DRAC IDF / Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux

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