Archaeologists in France announced on April 14 that they plan to unlock a sealed sarcophagus discovered in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. It was found beneath the fire-damaged cathedral while recovery work was underway.

Sealed tomb discovered in Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral

Anyone who has seen horror movies, including curses, mummies and tombs, might think that archaeologists should leave this one alone. The world has gone through enough in the last couple of years without horror being unleashed from the fire-damaged cathedral.

Despite this, French archaeologists are keen to unlock a mysterious sarcophagus found last month beneath the paving stone floor of Notre Dame Cathedral. A short video below shared on Twitter reveals the fascinating archaeological find.

Roselyne Bachelot, France’s Cultural Minister, said in a statement that the find is of “remarkable scientific quality.” She noted that the sarcophagus is in a surprisingly good condition with no structural damage besides some minor cracks.

What does the sarcophagus contain?

The sarcophagus was found buried around 65 feet underground, among a number of other tombs and objects, during restoration work on the fire-damaged cathedral. It is believed the tombs date back to the 14th century. Meanwhile, the sarcophagus, made of lead and in a human shape, likely belonged to a high-ranking church official.

Scientists had a sneak peek inside the tomb, using an endoscopic camera, slotted through one of the cracks. They recorded cloth remains and organic matter, including plants and hair, as well as objects that are yet to be identified.

Christophe Besnier of France’s National Archaeological Institute (INRAP) spokes to Reuters about the find. He said that the fact that the plants are still there indicates that the contents of the sarcophagus have been very well preserved.

According to INRAP, the sarcophagus will be sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Toulouse. Here, carbon dating will be used to learn more about both the person and the objects found inside. According to Besnier, if it does turn out that the sarcophagus is from the Middle Ages, they are dealing with an “extremely rare burial practice.”

However, as the sarcophagus contains human remains, the examination of the sarcophagus will be carried out in a sensitive way. Dominique Garcia of INRAP told AFP that under French law, the examination will have an anthropological focus rather than an archaeological one. Garcia added that the remains will likely be reburied in the cathedral once the work is complete.

Other archaeological finds at Notre Dame Cathedral

Since the devastating fire of April 2019, INRAP has been responsible for archaeological digs. Meanwhile, these support the ongoing restoration project at Notre Dame.

Besides statues, tombs, sculptures and medieval ceramic furniture, the team also uncovered painted fragments of the original rood screen. The rood screen was an ornate partition to separate the choir from the clergy during mass. It was built in around 1230 and destroyed in the 18th century. Some parts of the screen had earlier been discovered by French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc during the 19th century. These are now on display in the Louvre in Paris.

When can you visit Notre Dame?

Currently, restoration work is still ongoing but the cathedral is expected to reopen to the public in the spring of 2024. According to President Emmanuel Macron, the UNESCO World Heritage Site will be open in time for the Paris Olympics. However, while the museum is currently closed, travelers can still visit the Notre Dame square. This overlooks the crypt and the entrance to the exterior of the cathedral.

In the meantime, people can visit the Gothic cathedral through an augmented reality exhibit at the College des Bernardins in Paris. Meanwhile, the same reality exhibit is available in the US at the National Museum Building in Washington, DC. The exhibit will run through Monday, September 26, 2022.