Following the devastating fire that nearly destroyed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, archaeologists were granted a rare chance to excavate beneath the building during its extensive five-year renovation. Their efforts uncovered more than 1,000 fragments of historical artworks, providing a remarkable glimpse into the cathedral’s rich past.
A museum in Paris is now displaying those rare pieces of history. The Musée de Cluny, known for its collection of medieval art, shows important artifacts linked to nearly 1,000 years of the past. Among these are sculptures from Notre-Dame Cathedral, displayed for the first time.
One highlight is a collection of about 30 stone fragments from the cathedral’s rood screen. This screen once separated the choir, where singers performed, from the nave, where people sat during services. The sculptures include a bust of Christ and a man’s upper body dressed in a tunic.
The museum’s director, Séverine Lepape, was excited about the discovery. She explained that experts thought these sculptures, created in 1230, had been lost forever.
À partir de demain au musée de Cluny, vous pourrez voir l’un très trucs extraordinaires qu’on a trouvé en 2022 sous Notre-Dame : les morceaux du jubé, datés du 12e.
On les pensait perdus, ils étaient enterrés sous les dalles depuis la démolition de la structure au début du 18e. pic.twitter.com/lNwZkbQzKO
— Marine Benoit (@marin_eben) November 18, 2024
Excavations before restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Archaeologists have discovered remarkable historical artifacts during the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral following the April 2019 fire.
So sad to see what’s happened to #NotreDame but apparently all the artworks and treasures that could be saved, have been saved. But, what a shame. Before a cathedral, the site is believed to have been an ancient pagan temple. pic.twitter.com/Dfqk8JqMOL
— Matt Sibson (@MattSibson) April 15, 2019
These included around 700 stone fragments, some still showing traces of colorful decoration that had remained hidden for centuries.
Fifteen sculptures from the medieval period were also found during earlier renovation work in the 19th century. This restoration was led by French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who played a key role in preserving the cathedral’s history.
The recent finds offer a rare glimpse into the cathedral’s past. Some fragments reveal remnants of paint, which experts say show how these sculptures originally appeared.
“Polychromy is the colored adornment on the surface. It tells us what people saw when they were confronted with these sculptures before the application of colors disappeared,” said Damien Berné, curator of the exhibition “Making Stones Speak. Notre Dame’s Medieval Sculptures.”
Multiple discoveries over 2,000 years
Excavations at Notre-Dame Cathedral have revealed layers of history spanning over 2,000 years. Each era left its mark beneath the site, with some of the oldest discoveries dating back to ancient times.
Archaeologists uncovered a dwelling from the early 1st century, buried 3.5 meters below ground in the Soufflot cellar, located deep within the cathedral.
Remains from the Low Roman Empire, including evidence of housing and craftwork, were found beneath the square in front of the cathedral.
Even earlier traces were uncovered, including a large building from the Carolingian period (750–887), when the Carolingian dynasty ruled much of Western Europe. These findings show what existed before the cathedral’s construction in the Middle Ages.
For the first time, the cathedral’s foundations were also uncovered. Christophe Besnier, an expert involved in the dig, explained the significance of these discoveries.
“This really illustrates the level of activity on the site dating from the very first century up until our era,” said Christophe Besnier of the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INRAP).
“We have collected clues from almost every period. We will be able to reconstruct more than 2,000 years of history on this part of the Île de la Cité,” he said.