When reconstruction began at Notre Dame following the 2019 fire, a team of archaeologists was called in to dig for artifacts at the cathedral’s crossing. They were surprised to discover 1,035 fragments of various artworks buried beneath the stone floor. Among the most significant of these are the remains of a 13th-century rood screen that once shrouded Notre Dame’s choir and sanctuary from public view.
Notre Dame Excavations “Much Richer Than Expected”
According to French law, any construction project that disturbs soil where ancient artifacts may be found requires a survey by government archaeologists. The archaeological team, which came from the National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research, did not expect to find much at Notre Dame. They were given just five weeks to dig no deeper than 16 inches at the cathedral’s crossing, where the transept meets the nave and choir.
“The remains turned out to be much richer than expected,” lead archaeologist Christophe Besnier told National Geographic. “It’s very impressive.” The team was surprised to find 1,035 artwork fragments buried right beneath the stone floor. Some of these are pieces of life-size limestone sculptures that once stood at the center of Notre Dame. French art critic Didier Ryker called these finds, which date back to the 13th century, “some of the most exceptional works of sculpture from any period in the world.”
Archaeologists Excavate “Exceptional” Sculptures and Historic Burials
Besnier’s archaeological team was granted permission to dig deeper so the artifacts could be extracted, extending the dig to over two months. In addition to the 13th-century sculpture fragments, they found two lead coffins, one of which likely belongs to the French Renaissance poet Joachim du Bellay. A handful of other more ordinary burials were also uncovered.
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Most notably, archaeologists extracted several 13th-century sculpted heads and torsos, including a depiction of a lifeless Jesus Christ. According to Besnier, this particular sculpture “is really exceptional in its finesse, its attention to detail. The rendering of the eyelids, the ears, the nose—it’s incredible.” Archaeologists also determined that these sculptures were originally painted in bright colors, as remnants of red pigment were found on some of the fragments.
13th-century Rood Screen Among Most Significant Finds
Some of the sculpture fragments unearthed at Notre Dame belonged to a 13th-century rood screen—a masterwork of painted Gothic sculpture that once stood 13 feet high just beyond the cathedral’s entrance. The life-size sculptures on the rood screen told the story of Christianity, including scenes from the passion of Christ. A large crucifix would have topped the screen, as “rood” is an old Saxon word for “cross.”
Centuries ago, priests at Notre Dame used the rood screen to seclude themselves in the choir during their daily prayer services. The screen also served as a platform for the priests to read scripture from a pulpit to visiting Parisians in the nave. It stood for five centuries until changes in liturgical practice and aesthetic taste forced its removal in the early 18th century. Still considered too sacred to leave Notre Dame, the rood screen was destroyed, and its pieces were buried beneath the cathedral.
