A major restoration project is underway at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris following a devastating fire in 2019.
Archaeologists have unearthed thousands of ancient artifacts during the rebuilding process, but the findings are not always straightforward. It often takes further investigation to understand their stories.
In 2022, archaeologists discovered two lead sarcophagi beneath the cathedral’s transept crossing. These containers were used to hold coffins and were reserved for the burial of wealthy individuals and leaders.
One of the deceased was quickly identified as Antoine de La Porte, a cathedral canon who died in 1710.
The other remained unidentified until recently, when it was hypothesized to be Joachim du Bellay, who died in 1560, according to a September 17, 2024, news release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
Du Bellay was thought to be buried in the cathedral beside his uncle at his family’s request, but his grave was never located.
Éric Crubézy, professor of biological anthropology at Toulouse 3 University and research director, and his team proposed the hypothesis based on evidence such as an autopsy revealing that the individual suffered from bone tuberculosis and chronic meningitis, which was rare at the time and aligns with du Bellay’s medical history.
Additionally, the man’s femur structure indicated someone who spent a significant amount of time riding horses, according to Euronews. This detail also corresponds to du Bellay’s life.
“He matches all the criteria of the portrait: he is an accomplished horseman, suffers from both conditions mentioned in some of his poems, like in ‘The Complaint of the Despairing,’ where he describes ‘this storm that blurs (his) mind,’ and his family belonged to the royal court and the pope’s close entourage,” Crubézy said, per La Croix International.
Despite the supporting evidence, some researchers remain skeptical.
“Certain elements do not support this hypothesis: isotope analysis of the teeth indicates that the individual lived in the Paris region or Rhône-Alpes until he was 10 years old. However, we know that Joachim du Bellay grew up in Anjou,” Christophe Besnier, an INRAP archaeologist and excavation leader, told the outlet. “Additionally, just because his grave wasn’t found during the 1758 excavations of the Saint-Crépin chapel, doesn’t mean his remains weren’t there.”
Since the 2019 fire, over 100 burials have been identified, and 80 have been excavated in the cathedral, according to INRAP.
More than 50 archaeologists have been working on site, involved in the 14 operations that have taken place, the source notes.
As of now, is planned for December 2024.