Benjamin Peter (in Toulouse), edited by Gauthier Delomez
modified to
2:39 p.m., December 11, 2022
Inrap archaeologists have unveiled the first results of their study of the two mysterious coffins discovered in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. If the two bodies have been identified, this find allows us to learn more regarding the funeral rites of this period.
A mystery solved. Ten months following the discovery of two lead coffins in the excavations of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, archaeologists and anthropologists have lifted the veil on the origin of these objects, which had been taken to the forensic institute of Toulouse to be studied there. This study makes it possible in particular to learn more regarding the funeral rites of the time.
This therefore shows that it is, on the one hand, the remains of Canon Antoine de la Porte who died in 1710 at the age of 83, as indicated by the epitaph on the coffin. The second buried deeper is an unknown.
The choice of lead to preserve bodies
For Camille Colonna, anthropologist at the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), these dignitaries chose lead coffins so that their remains would be preserved. “It’s very rare because it’s very expensive, because it’s custom-made,” she remarks at the microphone of Europe 1. “Once it’s airtight, the lead coffin fully retains the body, to be presented before the Lord in perfect condition”, details the researcher.
Nevertheless, time has attacked these coffins, which has deteriorated the bodies of which only bones remain.
The surprising discovery of plant remains
However, archaeologist Christophe Besnier was surprised to discover plant remains. “Finding flowers and leaves is associated with embalming practices,” he explains. “One of the two had his skull sawed off and the brain and viscera were replaced by these plants”, describes the archaeologist, who identifies “the nature of the plants used, the nature of the ointments used. It is a phenomenon which can be observed very rarely in archeology in mainland France”, adds Christophe Besnier.
The coffins will leave next week in Paris. The archaeologists will then seek to find the identity of this stranger whose skeleton reveals that he rode a horse, and that he died at the age of thirty, probably of tuberculosis.
