Notre Dame cathedral excavation hailed as the ‘dig of the century’ after impressive finds
A section of Notre Dame’s forecourt has been transformed into an active excavation site (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)
An extensive archaeological excavation is underway beneath Notre DameCathedral‘s forecourt in Paris, a direct result of the 2019 fire and subsequent plans for urban renewal.
Dubbed the “dig of the century,” the project has unearthed 20 centuries of history within four metres of earth, revealing layers from Roman times to the medieval period.
Significant finds include a fourth-century coin bearing Emperor Constantine’s image and medieval pottery shards with mysterious, undeciphered reddish markings.
Archaeologists have discovered cellars of medieval homes, Merovingian and Carolingian grain pits, and a dense Roman quarter, with some of the best-preserved items found in ancient latrines.
This rare excavation offers a unique insight into Paris’s deep history, with hopes to delve even further back to the time of the Gauls, ahead of the cathedral’s reopening in late 2024 and the forecourt’s transformation into a shaded public space.
