Archaeologists just discovered some remarkable artifacts buried beneath the renowned Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, which famously caught fire in 2019. Several graves and a lead coffin were discovered among them. It will now be opened by researchers. Remember back in 2018, when scientists chose to open an ancient Egyptian black sarcophagus, much to the world’s dismay? We’re not claiming everything awful that has happened since then is their fault, but Japan’s “death stone,” which is claimed to have held a vengeful demon for 1,000 years, splitting open earlier this year isn’t a good omen either.
The “perfectly preserved, human-shaped coffin made of lead” was discovered among the burials, according to France24. Archaeologists want to ascertain the real date of the Notre-Dame sarcophagus by uncovering it, which is thought to be from the 14th century since it was covered with furniture from that era. However, because it was discovered buried 20 meters (65 feet) down among some 19th-century brick pipes from an older heating system, uncovering it is a critical step in determining its provenance.
“We are dealing with an extraordinarily unique burial method if it turns out to be a sarcophagus from the Middle Ages,” lead archaeologist Christophe Besnier said in a news conference, according to AFP. The crew intends to learn everything they can about the dead while adhering to French rules, as a human corpse is not considered an archeological artefact in France.
Following the discovery of the relics following the fire, France’s national archaeological research institution, INRAP, is currently looking into the feasibility of reinterment in Notre-Dame. HAL is a multidisciplinary open access repository that accepts and disseminates scientific research materials, whether or not they have been published.
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