Archaeologists set to open sarcophagus found under Notre Dame Cathedral

A sarcophagus — found at the Notre Dame Cathedral following a fire that devastated the 12th-century church — will be opened soon, French archaeologists said Thursday.

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The lead sarcophagus was discovered last month as preparation to reconstruct the cathedral’s spire began.

Workers found the sarcophagus amid several tombs “of remarkable scientific quality” 65 feet below the church’s nave, France’s Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot told Reuters.

Archaeologists said it could date back to the 14th century. The location of its burial and the quality of the materials used to make it suggested that it probably belonged to a high dignitary.

While scientists have not said exactly when they will open the sarcophagus, they have already looked inside the box with a small camera. Christophe Besnier from France’s National Archaeological Institute told Reuters that researchers have identified some of the contents.

“We were able to send a small camera inside which showed cloth remains, organic matter such as hair and plant remains.”

“The fact that these plants are still there indicates that the contents have been very well preserved.”

The announcement that the sarcophagus would be open came on the eve of the third anniversary of the fire that nearly destroyed the Gothic cathedral.

On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out as work was being done on the building. By the time the structure fire was extinguished, the building’s spire had collapsed and its upper walls were near collapse. The roof of the cathedral was all but destroyed.

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