Notre-Dame-de-Paris: two “sarcophagi” will be analyzed in Toulouse in September
Uncovered on March 14, during the excavation of the crossing of Notre-Dame-de-Paris, the mysterious anthropomorphic lead coffin was to be transferred to Toulouse this month of June to be opened and examined. But a new discovery postpones the arrival to September because the research having been prolonged, another “sarcophagus” will accompany it.
Three months ago, the discovery fascinated archaeologists like all history buffs. Awith the polychrome fragments of the former rood screen of Notre-Dame-de-Paris, this lead coffin (1) anthropomorphic it is indeed turned out theother major reveal of the dig driving under the paving of the crossing, by the National Institute of preventive archaeological research (Inrap). Among the exhumed graves and the dozen other “sarcophagi” identified, this one was indeed quite unique, with his human figure.
With a length of 1.95 m for 48 cm wide, he was mostly in a conservation state good enough to hope for new discoveries :psummary of the 14th century, according to the shards found around, its dating accurate obviously remained to be done. But beyond… Everyone wanted to identify the host that he welcomed. Obviously a great dignitary of the time, in view of such a burial. And the Forensic Institute of Professor Norbert Talmon, forensic pathologist and specialist in identification anthropology, it was therefore necessary welcomedIrl’object and its remainse this month of June, for study and autopsy as part of a partnership with Inrap and the CNRS team of Eric Crubézy, professor of anthropobiology at the University of Toulouse III, reference. But here it is… He won’t arrive before September.
Dthem “mystery” dignitaries
Whose fault or rather what? To good news for researchers, answer in subsyouance DomInique Garcia, president of Inrap. NOTin particular “because the excavation of Notre Dame was extended because archaeologists have shown their expertise, without endangering future projects “, he explains. ” We knew that there was a second “sarcophagus” and the establishment of Notre-Dame asked us to continue the excavation and to remove it. A priori, it would be a little more recent”, specifies Dominique Garcia. In doing so, the “transfer and opening” operation postponed to September is not one… But two lead coffins and therefore two “mystery” dignitaries on which the scientists will look, front row the Toulouse anthropologist Sylvie Duchesne, from Inrap Occitanie Ouest, also a member of this CN teamRS, specialist in identification… for research that is except anecdotal since it is part of this “new vision of the history of death” on which Inrap is working.
” Preventive archeology celebrates its 20 years this year. And it is also an opportunity to realize with these two coffins that the human being has returned to the center of the debate”, underlines Dominique Garcia. “For a long time archaeologists have studied objects, funerary sites, but the anthropological approach was relatively limited. For decades, on an excavated, including in Occitania, dolmens and examined them. We also recovered the objects presented in many of our museums. But we did not take care of the dead, the bones found in the graves, ”he recalls.
“Or today, we study populations. And medicine having made a lot of progress and we learn a lot not only about humans, by analyzing their DNA, for example, but also about societies by analyzing the state of health of the person before they die » continue the president of Inrap. In the singular case of Notre-Dame? These “sarcophagi” are hermetic. “But we know that inside there is preserved fabric, pollen, remains of plants and beyond the identity of the dead, all this will broaden our knowledge of the rituals of the time” concluded the President of Inrap.