The tragic 2019 fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral led to major discoveries during restoration work. Archaeologists unearthed treasures dating back from antiquity to the 19th century.
Issued on: 04/12/2024 -
By: Stéphanie TROUILLARD
Archaeologists excavate the floor of Notre-Dame Cathedral after the discovery of a 15th-century sarcophagus, March 15 2022. © Julien de Rosa, AFP
Busts of the crucified face of Christ, the torso of a man wearing a tunic are some of the artifacts on display at the Musée de Cluny, a museum of medieval art in Paris, where visitors can contemplate nearly ten centuries of history. Around 30 fragments from Notre-Dame Cathedral's rood screen, a stone tribune adorned with statues, are being exhibited for the first time. The tribune formed an enclosure between the choir and the nave where the faithful were seated.
“We thought these elements had been lost forever,” said museum's director Séverine Lepape, as she revealed the sculptures, which were made in 1230.
Busts of the crucified face of Christ, the torso of a man wearing a tunic are some of the artifacts on display at the Musée de Cluny, a museum of medieval art in Paris, where visitors can contemplate nearly ten centuries of history. Around 30 fragments from Notre-Dame Cathedral's rood screen, a stone tribune adorned with statues, are being exhibited for the first time. The tribune formed an enclosure between the choir and the nave where the faithful were seated.
“We thought these elements had been lost forever,” said museum's director Séverine Lepape, as she revealed the sculptures, which were made in 1230.
A bust dating from 1230 discovered in 2022 in Notre-Dame’s transept.
© Stéphanie Trouillard, France 24
‘It's unbelievable’
The remains were unearthed during excavations carried out prior to the reconstruction of the cathedral, after the April 2019 fire.
Around 15 of the medieval sculptures were unearthed during renovation work in the 19th century led by French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) .
Recent excavations following the 2019 fire uncovered around thousand pieces, including 700 fragments, some of which display polychrome traces that are well preserved. "Polychromy is the coloured adornment on the surface. It tells us what people saw when they were confronted with these sculptures before the application of colours disappeared,” said Damien Berné, the curator of the exhibition Making Stones Speak. Notre Dame’s Medieval Sculptures, which ends March 16, 2025.
Pieces of the rood screen painted in blue and accented with gold. © Denis Gliksman, Inrap
Delicate slivers of colour adorn these fragile artifacts: reds, blues, ochres and golds. “The rood screen is an exceptional discovery; the likes of which you only get once every hundred years. When we find a 13th-century sculpture, we're happy, but when we find 1,000, it's unbelievable," said archaeologist Christophe Besnier of the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP). "I feel privileged," added the lead archeologist for the February 2022 excavation of Notre-Dame’s transept crossing.
WatchThe renaissance of Notre-Dame Cathedral: Behind the scenes of a monumental restoration
Few opportunities existed before the fire to study the prestigious religious building so closely. During radical restoration work overseen by Viollet-le-Duc beginning in 1843, the architect recorded observations in his journal. But it was not until 1847 that an initial excavation campaign was carried out by Théodore Vacquer on the eastern edge beneath the square in front of Notre-Dame. The construction of a car park under the square in the 1960s also allowed for the discovery of architectural ruins, and for the creation of a crypt that would display the remains.
"From an archaeological point of view, the area was relatively unknown, except for the square. Notre-Dame was considered as a historical monument, not an archaeological site," said Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux, the chief heritage curator who has coordinated all the archaeological operations at Notre-Dame decreed by the State since 2019. "We have carried out around 20 diagnostic or excavation operations as part of this project, which have uncovered nearly 2,000 years of history," she added.
Delicate slivers of colour adorn these fragile artifacts: reds, blues, ochres and golds. “The rood screen is an exceptional discovery; the likes of which you only get once every hundred years. When we find a 13th-century sculpture, we're happy, but when we find 1,000, it's unbelievable," said archaeologist Christophe Besnier of the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP). "I feel privileged," added the lead archeologist for the February 2022 excavation of Notre-Dame’s transept crossing.
WatchThe renaissance of Notre-Dame Cathedral: Behind the scenes of a monumental restoration
Few opportunities existed before the fire to study the prestigious religious building so closely. During radical restoration work overseen by Viollet-le-Duc beginning in 1843, the architect recorded observations in his journal. But it was not until 1847 that an initial excavation campaign was carried out by Théodore Vacquer on the eastern edge beneath the square in front of Notre-Dame. The construction of a car park under the square in the 1960s also allowed for the discovery of architectural ruins, and for the creation of a crypt that would display the remains.
"From an archaeological point of view, the area was relatively unknown, except for the square. Notre-Dame was considered as a historical monument, not an archaeological site," said Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux, the chief heritage curator who has coordinated all the archaeological operations at Notre-Dame decreed by the State since 2019. "We have carried out around 20 diagnostic or excavation operations as part of this project, which have uncovered nearly 2,000 years of history," she added.
INRAP archaeologists work on skeletons at the burial site discovered in the nave of the Notre-Dame Cathedral on December 8, 2023. © Sarah Meyssonnier, AFP
Rebuilding 2000 years of history
For centuries, different occupations were superimposed on one another. The oldest levels date back to the early antiquity period. A dwelling from the very beginning of the 1st century was unearthed at a depth of 3.50 metres in the Soufflot cellar, in the heart of the cathedral. Remains related to housing and crafts from the Low Roman Empire were discovered under the cathedral’s square.
Read moreNotre-Dame, five years after the flames: A symbol of resilience
The excavations also made it possible to identify remains from the Middle Ages prior to the construction of the cathedral, including a large Carolingian building, dating back to the period when the Carolingian family of aristocrats ruled much of western Europe from 750 to 887.
The foundations of the cathedral were also uncovered for the first time. "This really illustrates the level of activity on the site dating from the very first century up until our era," said Christophe Besnier. "We have collected clues from almost every period. We will be able to reconstruct more than 2,000 years of history on this part of the Île de la Cité," he said, referring to the island on the River Seine where the cathedral is built.
Rebuilding 2000 years of history
For centuries, different occupations were superimposed on one another. The oldest levels date back to the early antiquity period. A dwelling from the very beginning of the 1st century was unearthed at a depth of 3.50 metres in the Soufflot cellar, in the heart of the cathedral. Remains related to housing and crafts from the Low Roman Empire were discovered under the cathedral’s square.
Read moreNotre-Dame, five years after the flames: A symbol of resilience
The excavations also made it possible to identify remains from the Middle Ages prior to the construction of the cathedral, including a large Carolingian building, dating back to the period when the Carolingian family of aristocrats ruled much of western Europe from 750 to 887.
The foundations of the cathedral were also uncovered for the first time. "This really illustrates the level of activity on the site dating from the very first century up until our era," said Christophe Besnier. "We have collected clues from almost every period. We will be able to reconstruct more than 2,000 years of history on this part of the Île de la Cité," he said, referring to the island on the River Seine where the cathedral is built.
Antique objects found by archaeologists after the discovery of a 14th century lead sarcophagus on March 15, 2022. © Julien de Rosa, AFP
For Besnier, each excavation is unique. Even if the discovery of the rood screen was an exceptional find, he refused to rate the discoveries. "Finding Gallic coins from the end of the 1st century BC in the Soufflot cellar was just as moving," said Besnier.
Chaoui-Derieux agreed. "Maybe they are less spectacular, but the discoveries of Merovingian layers on the south side of the cathedral and the 30-metre-long Carolingian building are just as important from a scientific point of view," he said.
A ‘data mine’
The 2022 discovery of two coffins beneath the nave of Notre-Dame were particularly publicised in French media reports.
While the identification of Canon Antoine de La Porte was made possible by the epitaph on his coffin, the identity of the other occupant remained shrouded in mystery.
In September, archaeologist Éric Crubézy finally announced that it could be the poet Joachim du Bellay, who was buried in the cathedral in the 16th century, according to analyses carried out at the Forensic Institute of the Toulouse University Hospital.
Yet doubts remain, according to Chaoui-Derieux. "The studies are still far from over. There are other signs suggesting this isn’t Joachim du Bellay but another individual."
For Besnier, each excavation is unique. Even if the discovery of the rood screen was an exceptional find, he refused to rate the discoveries. "Finding Gallic coins from the end of the 1st century BC in the Soufflot cellar was just as moving," said Besnier.
Chaoui-Derieux agreed. "Maybe they are less spectacular, but the discoveries of Merovingian layers on the south side of the cathedral and the 30-metre-long Carolingian building are just as important from a scientific point of view," he said.
A ‘data mine’
The 2022 discovery of two coffins beneath the nave of Notre-Dame were particularly publicised in French media reports.
While the identification of Canon Antoine de La Porte was made possible by the epitaph on his coffin, the identity of the other occupant remained shrouded in mystery.
In September, archaeologist Éric Crubézy finally announced that it could be the poet Joachim du Bellay, who was buried in the cathedral in the 16th century, according to analyses carried out at the Forensic Institute of the Toulouse University Hospital.
Yet doubts remain, according to Chaoui-Derieux. "The studies are still far from over. There are other signs suggesting this isn’t Joachim du Bellay but another individual."
A 14th century lead sarcophagus discovered in Notre-Dame on March 15, 2022.
© Julien de Rosa, AFP
Notre-Dame hasn't finished revealing its secrets. Despite the completion of the restoration project, teams of archaeologists are still busy. "The work is not over. There are still important analyses to be carried out over the next two or three years," said Besnier. A year-long effort to stabilise all the fragments of the rood screen and its polychromy is currently underway. The discovery will also lead to a 3D reconstruction.
Read moreMacron takes world on first tour inside Paris’s restored Notre-Dame cathedral
During the work, the rubble left after the fire was also carefully collected and inventoried. "This is considered as archaeological remains which are now accessible to the scientific community," said Chaoui-Derieux. "There are specialists in wood, stone and metal who come to our reserves to take samples of these materials. They will be able to tell us more, especially about the construction of the framework, or about the different phases of restoration. It is a real source of data."
Notre-Dame hasn't finished revealing its secrets. Despite the completion of the restoration project, teams of archaeologists are still busy. "The work is not over. There are still important analyses to be carried out over the next two or three years," said Besnier. A year-long effort to stabilise all the fragments of the rood screen and its polychromy is currently underway. The discovery will also lead to a 3D reconstruction.
Read moreMacron takes world on first tour inside Paris’s restored Notre-Dame cathedral
During the work, the rubble left after the fire was also carefully collected and inventoried. "This is considered as archaeological remains which are now accessible to the scientific community," said Chaoui-Derieux. "There are specialists in wood, stone and metal who come to our reserves to take samples of these materials. They will be able to tell us more, especially about the construction of the framework, or about the different phases of restoration. It is a real source of data."
A person holds photographs of archaeological remains after the Notre-Dame fire on November 21, 2024. © Stephane de Sakutin, AFP
The fire that ravaged the cathedral and moved the entire world will have indirectly helped advance research, said Chaoui-Derieux. "It is obvious that no one would have wanted this disaster, but once it happened, we tried to find the silver lining. This is a tragedy which helped us enrich our knowledge."
Read more Notre-Dame set for further restorations, thanks to generous donations
(Translation of the original in French by Sonya Ciesnik.)
The fire that ravaged the cathedral and moved the entire world will have indirectly helped advance research, said Chaoui-Derieux. "It is obvious that no one would have wanted this disaster, but once it happened, we tried to find the silver lining. This is a tragedy which helped us enrich our knowledge."
Read more Notre-Dame set for further restorations, thanks to generous donations
(Translation of the original in French by Sonya Ciesnik.)
