Ancient Burial Discovered Under Paris Cathedral
2022-03-20
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1Archaeologists have discovered an ancient coffin under the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
2The lead coffin, also known as a sarcophagus, was uncovered along with several ancient tombs.
3France's Culture Ministry said some lower levels of the excavation site are believed to date back to the 14th century.
4It said the unearthed burial sites represented "remarkable scientific quality."
5Among the discovered tombs was the "completely preserved, human-shaped sarcophagus made of lead," the ministry added.
6Archaeologists said the coffin may have been created for a high-level official who had lived at the time.
7The excavation work is happening as workers repair the historic religious center after a destructive fire in 2019.
8Because of the latest discoveries, officials decided to extend the excavation work until March 25.
9Christophe Besnier is with France's National Archaeological Institute.
10He told Reuters his organization was able to send a camera down to where the work is being done.
11It captured materials including cloth, as well as remains of hair and plants.
12"The fact that these plants are still there indicates that the contents have been very well preserved," he said.
13In addition to the tombs, elements of painted sculptures were also found just beneath the current floor level of the cathedral.
14Other ancient materials were unearthed during repairs carried out at Notre Dame in the mid-1800s.
15Many of those pieces are included in the collection of the Louvre museum in Paris.
16I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Archaeologists have discovered an ancient coffin under the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. 2The lead coffin, also known as a sarcophagus, was uncovered along with several ancient tombs. 3France's Culture Ministry said some lower levels of the excavation site are believed to date back to the 14th century. It said the unearthed burial sites represented "remarkable scientific quality." 4Among the discovered tombs was the "completely preserved, human-shaped sarcophagus made of lead," the ministry added. Archaeologists said the coffin may have been created for a high-level official who had lived at the time. 5The excavation work is happening as workers repair the historic religious center after a destructive fire in 2019. Because of the latest discoveries, officials decided to extend the excavation work until March 25. 6Christophe Besnier is with France's National Archaeological Institute. He told Reuters his organization was able to send a camera down to where the work is being done. It captured materials including cloth, as well as remains of hair and plants. 7"The fact that these plants are still there indicates that the contents have been very well preserved," he said. 8In addition to the tombs, elements of painted sculptures were also found just beneath the current floor level of the cathedral. 9Other ancient materials were unearthed during repairs carried out at Notre Dame in the mid-1800s. Many of those pieces are included in the collection of the Louvre museum in Paris. 10I'm Bryan Lynn. 11Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 12We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 13______________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15coffin - n. a box in which a dead body is buried 16tomb - n. a place where a dead person is buried, usually marked by a structure 17excavation - n. to dig in the ground in an effort to look for objects from the past 18remarkable - adj. very unusual or noticeable in a favorable way 19preserve - v. to keep something the same or prevent it from being damaged or destroyed 20indicate - v. to show that something exists or is likely to be true 21sculpture - n. a piece of art made from stone, wood, clay, etc.