Important archaeological discovery at Notre Dame de Paris

Several graves, including a lead sarcophagus probably from the 14th century, were discovered during the restoration work of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, burned down in April 2019, the French Ministry of Culture announced Monday.

These remains, found in an excavation prior to the reconstruction work of the cathedral spire, are “of remarkable scientific quality”, according to the ministry.

Between the graves, “an anthropomorphic sarcophagus in lead, fully preserved” was taken out, which could be that of “a high dignitary, probably from the 14th century”, according to the same source.

It was also discovered “a moat where polychrome sculpted elements were deposited” of an old jube or high choir, a structure in stone or wood that separated the sanctuary from the rest of the church, built around 1230 and destroyed at the beginning of the 18th century.

During the restoration work carried out in the mid-19th century by Viollet-Le-Duc, who designed the Notre Dame spire, other fragments of this high choir had been found, which are exhibited in the Louvre Museum.

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