During restoration work, an enigmatic lead sarcophagus, containing human remains, was unearthed.

France was shaken up in 2019 when their beloved cathedral, Notre Dame, was found to be ablaze. The roof and central spire collapsed. Meanwhile, the restoration work is in full swing. Unsuspectingly, archaeologists have now stumbled upon a very special discovery. For beneath the battered cathedral lay, to their great surprise, an enigmatic lead sarcophagus.

Discovery

The discovery was made under the floor in the nave of the cathedral; the elongated space in church buildings in a west-east direction. The stability of the floor was checked here, so that scaffolding can soon be placed here to restore the spire. Given this planned work and its location in the heart of the cathedral, ‘preventive archaeological excavations’ were therefore ordered.

Lead sarcophagus

Archaeologists decided to take a look under the floor. And there they suddenly stumbled upon a fully intact human-shaped coffin. It turns out to be a sarcophagus made of lead.

Archaeologists stumble upon a lead sarcophagus. Image: DRAC IDF / Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux

Using a small camera, researchers were then able to look inside the coffin. Here, in addition to human remains, they also found hair, pieces of cloth and some plant material under the head of the deceased. According to the researchers, this indicates ‘a very good general state of preservation’.

dignitary

Given the features and the location where the coffin was found, the researchers suspect that it is the sarcophagus of a dignitary. The man was probably laid to rest under the cathedral in the 14th century.

Scientific interest

The remains are “of remarkable scientific interest,” the researchers said. Thanks to the discovery, we are also beginning to better understand the history of the famous French cathedral.

Research into the lead coffin and the human remains found therein continues. Restoration work will also resume shortly. The archaeologists have until the end of March to complete their work in the church. After that, restoration teams will get back to work to restore Notre Dame to its former glory. The cathedral is expected to reopen in 2024.