Notre Dame’s Secrets: Archaeological excavations beneath Notre Dame Cathedral during its restoration uncovered over 1,000 historical artworks. The dig revealed treasures from the 13th-century rood screen, including a bust of Christ and a carved figure. Discoveries also included Carolingian buildings, Roman-era homes, and the cathedral’s foundations, offering insights into over 2,000 years of history on Île de la Cité.
Notre Dame’s Secrets
The devastating fire that nearly consumed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 2019 opened a unique window into history. During the extensive five-year restoration process, archaeologists were given an extraordinary opportunity to excavate beneath the iconic structure, which revealed more than 1,000 fragments of historical artworks previously hidden from view.
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Notre Dame’s Secrets: Facebook Twitter Pintrest This unprecedented dig was made possible under French law of preventative archaeology, which allows for the study of archaeological remains that might otherwise be lost to construction. Beginning in February 2022, the excavation unearthed treasures spanning centuries of the cathedral’s history. Reports add that these findings are currently on exhibit at Paris’s Musée de Cluny, which houses a collection of mediaeval artwork. Approximately thirty stone fragments from Notre Dame’s rood screen, which previously divided the choir from the nave in the 13th century, are among the highlights. A bust of Christ and an exquisitely carved image of a man wearing a tunic, believed to have vanished from history, are among these sculptures.
Learn MoreThe director of the museum, Séverine Lepape, was thrilled about the discovery and emphasised the significance of the sculptures, which are thought to have been created around 1230. Insights into how they would have looked in their heyday can be gained from the fact that several of the fragments still have remnants of their former vibrant embellishments. The traces of polychromy show what mediaeval visitors saw before the colours faded over time, according to Damien Berné, curator of the exhibition ‘Making Stones Speak. Notre Dame’s Mediaeval Sculptures.’
Notre Dame’s Secrets: The discoveries extend far beyond the Middle Ages, revealing layers of history spanning more than 2,000 years. Archaeologists discovered Carolingian (750–887) buildings, Roman-era homes, and signs of craftsmanship. These discoveries offer insight into Île de la Cité life long before the church was built.
The foundations of the cathedral were also investigated for the first time. The importance of these discoveries was elaborated by Christophe Besnier of the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP), who said they provide hints from almost every historical era from the first century. “On this site, we can now piece together over 2,000 years of history,” he stated.
In addition to preserving a representation of France’s history, the restoration of Notre Dame has revealed artefacts that broaden our knowledge of its complex and multifaceted past.
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