Notre-Dame Excavations Reveal 2,000 Years of History

After a devastating fire damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, archaeologists found themselves with a rare chance to dig into its history. During excavations carried out during the ongoing renovation of the cathedral, they uncovered over 1,000 ancient artifacts, shedding light on the rich heritage of this iconic site.

These findings, now showcased at the Musée de Cluny in Paris, offer an incredible look into nearly a millennium of history. The museum, known for its medieval art collection, is displaying key artifacts from the excavation for the first time.

Among the treasures are sculptures from Notre-Dame’s original structure, including around 30 stone fragments from the cathedral’s 13th-century rood screen. These include a bust of Christ and other intricately carved pieces.

A rood screen is a screen, normally made of richly carved wood or stone, which separates the nave from the chancel in a church or cathedral.

Notre-Dame’s lost history comes to light

The rood screen fragments, crafted in 1230, once separated the choir from the main seating area. Experts had long believed these sculptures were lost. Séverine Lepape, director of the Musée de Cluny, expressed her excitement about their rediscovery, calling it a vital piece of history brought back to life.

The dig also revealed around 700 additional stone fragments, many still bearing traces of their original colorful paint. Experts believe these remnants offer valuable insights into how the sculptures might have appeared when they adorned the cathedral centuries ago.

Damien Berné, curator of the museum’s exhibition Making Stones Speak: Notre-Dame’s Medieval Sculptures, explained the importance of this discovery. “The remaining paint shows us how people saw these artworks in their time, before the colors faded away,” he said.

Excavations reveal layers of history spanning two millennia

The excavation extended beyond the cathedral itself. Archaeologists uncovered layers of history beneath the site, some dating back over 2,000 years.

Among the most significant finds was a 1st-century Roman dwelling buried 3.5 meters below the cathedral.

Evidence of Roman-era housing and craftsmanship was also found in the square outside. Even older discoveries included remains from the Carolingian period (750–887), a time when the Carolingian dynasty ruled much of Europe.

For the first time, archaeologists also exposed parts of the cathedral’s medieval foundations. Christophe Besnier of the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP) emphasized the importance of these finds.

“This site tells a story spanning from the first century to the present day,” he said, adding, “we now have clues from nearly every historical era, allowing us to piece together over 2,000 years of life on the Île de la Cité.”