French scientists open two lead coffins found buried at Notre Dame

French scientists have lifted the lid of two lead coffins found buried under the nave at Notre Dame Cathedral, revealing details about the individuals hidden within.

The country’s archaeological agency INRAP, in partnership with the University of Toulouse, found one body belonged to a high priest, while the other was a well-off young man dubbed the «illustrious stranger».

He was buried with a «wreath of flowers».

A plaque fixed atop of the high priest’s coffin identified him as Antoine de la Porte.

Nicknamed the «Jubilee Canon,» he died in 1710.

He was buried around 20 centimetres underground, while the aristocratic man was several metres deep, indicating the two coffins were buried at different times.

«All his bones are preserved as well as hair and beard hair. Rarer, archaeologists have collected textile remains,» it said.

«For archaeologists and anthropologists, this rare identification will make it possible to compare his biography with the observations of his bone remains.»

The agency is working to identify the stranger, who «remains anonymous at the moment» – although a few clues hint towards who he may have been.

His skeleton reveals he was a man between 25 and 40 years old.

Speculation is mounting he may have been a knight as his remains show he was a rider with «marked physical activity of the upper limbs».

«The sarcophagus seems to have been moulded on the body of the deceased,» INRAP said.

«As revealed by an endoscopic camera, the coffin contained remains of the shroud as well as numerous remains of leaves and flowers at the level of the skull, probably a wreath of flowers.

«Other leaves were found at the level of its abdomen.

«His funeral treatment differs radically from the Canon of La Porte and suggests an aristocratic status.

«Indeed, if all the bones are preserved, the skull is sawed off, which indicates a different mortuary treatment: it was embalmed, this will perhaps be confirmed by the analysis of the foliage which includes a number of fragrant plants.»

The two sarcophagi were found during restoration work earlier this year, after the famous landmark was destroyed by fire in April 2019.

Days after the blaze, Paris police investigators said they believe an electrical short-circuit most likely caused the fire.

Burials in lead coffin was a practice reserved for the elite.