Ancient sarcophagus discovered in Notre Dame

An ancient lead sarcophagus was found by archaeologists under Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It had fragments of a presbytery screen, which reconverts the history of the cathedral, which is currently being remodeled due to the great fire that occurred on April 15, 2019.

Before the restoration of approximately 100 meters of height, the leaders requested the excavation as a precaution before mounting the scaffolding to prevent any inconvenience.

The Minister of Culture of France, Roselyne Bachelot, stated that these excavation works were going to last until March 25 and that, in addition, the remarkable discovery of the sarcophagus provided many data of scientific interest.

"We were able to send a small camera inside that showed remains of cloth, organic matter such as hair, and plant remains," said Christopher Besnier of the National Archaeological Institute of France.

The sarcophagus is on a floor that dates back to the 18th century with some irregularities that may date back to the 14th or 13th century. If these dates can be confirmed, the sarcophagus would be a wonderful find, according to archaeologists.

Similarly, they expressed that it could be the tomb of a dignitary, which adds greater importance than it already has. A moat was also found just below the cathedral which, according to research, dates from the year 1230, the same year in which the cathedral, the oldest symbol of the French Gothic world, was erected.

The burning of the cathedral was a traumatic event, Parisians wept as they watched this historical icon of the city fall.