Scientists have finally solved the mystery of the skeletons buried in lead-lined coffins 65 feet below the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The devastating 2019 fire, which saw the Notre-Dame’s roof and spire go up in flames, led archeologists in Paris to uncover the mysterious coffins. One of the skeletons was quickly identified as Antoine de la Porte, a local cleric born in the 17th century.
But, French archaeologists were left baffled by the second skeleton. A description on the coffin simply described him as an ‘unknown nobleman’.
Intensive work from France’s National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) has finally found the skeleton’s identity – and he turned out to be one of France’s best-loved early poets.
Scientists have announced the coffin held the body of Joachim du Bellay, a celebrated French Renaissance poet and critic. Du Bellay is still taught in French schools, and a few of his poems are widely known.
Du Bellay was known in France as ‘the Horseman’ due to his love for riding horses. He died of chronic meningitis due to tuberculosis in Paris in 1560, at the age of just 37. Du Bellay’s poetry is still taught in French schools today.
It was known from records that du Bellay was buried in Notre-Dame, where he had served as a minor clerical official but his tomb has never been found – until now.
Dr Éric Crubézy, professor of anthropology at the University of Toulouse III, said the 16th century is “rarely represented among the burials of important people in the cathedral”. He added the skeleton “matches all the criteria of the portrait” of du Bellay.
The coffins were first uncovered in March 2022, but the tombs were only opened eight months later in November of that year.
Experts were baffled by the unknown skeletons, given that burial in a lead coffin was a special act ‘reserved for the elite’.
Scientific analysis of the skeleton narrowed down its identity and revealed it to be of a man aged about 35, who suffered from bone tuberculosis in his neck and head and spent a lot of time in the saddle.
However, Christophe Besnier, an INRAP archaeologist, suggested some doubts remain over the identity.
He said: “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.”
The Notre Dame will finally reopen to the public on December 8 this year, following £700 million of extensive restoration work.
The findings from the archaeology work at the cathedral will be on display at an exhibition in November, shortly before the cathedral’s re-opening.
