Home Technology Scientists have determined who is buried in the sarcophagus under Notre Dame

Scientists have determined who is buried in the sarcophagus under Notre Dame

Scientists have established that the man buried in one of the coffins under the floor of Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the rich and philanthropists.

The Guardian newspaper points out that the name of one of the buried is engraved on a copper plate attached to a lead coffin and belongs to the priest Antoine de la Porte, who was 83 years old and died in 1710.

De la Porte was very wealthy and influential, and at the time he asked to paint several paintings now on display in the Louvre, including Jean Jouvenier’s The Mass of the Priest Antoine de la Porte. He also provided 10,000 livres for the renovation of the Notre Dame choir.

Judging by the remains, it can be said that his teeth were at a good age, and he seems to have taken good care of them.

Scientists are trying to identify the person buried in another coffin, which was found in the cathedral.

“If he died in the second half of the 16th century or at the beginning of the 17th century, we will identify him from the records. But we may never know who he is if he died earlier,” says Christoph Benn, head of the research team. .

However, the researchers determined that a man who was 30 years old at the time of death was buried in the coffin. He belonged to the elite, as indicated by the location of his grave, and he suffered from a chronic disease that led to the loss of teeth. His skull is deformed, possibly due to wearing a headdress or headband as an infant. Researchers believe, based on his pelvic bones, that he was an accomplished rider.

The researchers noted that the condition of the remains of this person is poor due to air entering the coffin, although he was mummified, although embalming was rare in the Middle Ages. He was also buried with flowers.

It should be noted that scientists discovered two sarcophagi during excavations that were carried out after the 2019 fire. In addition, scientists discovered a number of carvings that were identified as parts of the original 13th-century partition, which is an architectural element that separates the altar from the nave. Most of the artifacts were found under the floor of the cathedral at a depth of only 20 cm. As for the sarcophagus, repeating the shape of the body, it was at a depth of one meter.

Source: News

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