Compiled by: Betül Yasemin Keskin / Milliyet.com.tr – Notre-Dame Cathedral was badly damaged in a fire on April 15, 2019. The fire spread to the cathedral, causing severe damage inside the building. YesAfter the commemoration, experts started excavations while repairing this historical and religious center. As the end of the work nears, authorities have also uncovered a mystery underlying the cathedral.
MUCH MORE THAN A NOVEL
‘Notre-Dame de Paris’ is known as one of the most famous cathedrals built in the Gothic architectural style. This cathedral, which was considered the zero point for measuring the distance from other countries and cities to Paris, is also in an important position for the Archbishop. Although it is known as the place where Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” takes place, this cathedral is actually much more than a novel for France.
MANY GRAVES APPEAR
Archaeological excavations carried out by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) were added this year to the restoration work started after the fire. What was discovered under the floor of this cathedral, which is being restored and archaeologically discovered, has turned its eyes to Notre Dame Cathedral. According to the French Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, there are remarkable scientific remains under Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Several tombs, probably from the 14th century, have been discovered deep in the floors of Notre-Dame Cathedral. An anthropomorphic (anthropomorphic) sarcophagus entirely preserved in lead was also found among the unearthed graves.
WHO’S IN IT ?
The discovery of 14th-century tombs beneath the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral has also raised questions about who is buried there. According to their characteristics and their location, the tombs discovered would belong to very influential and high-ranking personalities.
The burial of the dead in churches is a common tradition in the Catholic world. Many churches, cathedrals and basilicas have an area called catacombs reserved for burial. It is also known to play an important role in the lives of people, who in many cases are buried under prominent churches. Most of the tombs found at Notre Dame are believed to belong to saints, bishops, cardinals, or important cathedral figures who served in the cathedral at some point in their lives. But the truth still remains a mystery.
THE MUMMY DISCOVERY THAT WILL CHANGE HISTORY
On the other hand, a discovery made in Portugal will change what we know about the tradition of mummification, which dates back to antiquity. The view that the oldest mummies belong to ancient Egypt has been adopted around the world. Although the custom of mummification was common in ancient Egypt, people from many different cultures also embalmed their dead.
REVEALED PHOTOS
It was very difficult to see mummification remains in temperate and rainy regions like Europe. Most of the embalming techniques observed consisted of random natural events. However, a study in Portugal turned everything upside down. In the 1960s, more than 100 human fossils, consisting of numerous mussel shells, were discovered in Portugal, most dating from 8,150 to 7,000 years ago. Photographs of the skeletal remains of 13 three individuals found in Portugal’s Sado Valley in the 1960s have recently been shared. However, photographs and documentation of graves excavated in 1960 and 1962 were lacking. The rediscovery of these photographs and the completion of the documentation provided a unique opportunity to learn more about Mesolithic mortuary practices. Researchers reconstructed the places where the bodies were buried, which revealed more about Mesolithic burials.
According to the results obtained during the examinations, limbs such as the arms and legs were excessively flexed and certain joints were removed in important parts of the skeleton. At the same time, the sediments around the bones quickly filled up. All of these elements were clearly present in at least one of the burials in this study. Some corpses have also been seen placed in an excessively bent fetal position. All of this suggested that people in Europe were not buried as soon as they died. The Sato Valley remains have also brought forward claims that the technique of mummification could have been applied to the Mesolithic period. During mummification, the body was gradually dried to preserve its integrity and at the same time shrunk by tying strings or bandages to bring it into a desired position. Because when the process was over, it was easier to transport the corpse. At the same time, it was shrunken and much lighter than a new corpse, providing comfort during burial, while maintaining its appearance and anatomical integrity.
‘THE FUNGERAL AND GRAVITY LOCATION IS IMPORTANT’
These transactions, which were made in Portugal 8,000 years ago, also highlight the importance of burial and burial place. Researchers, “Mummification should not be viewed solely from a functional perspective, as the change in appearance associated with embalming may be closely tied to the cultural concept of death and even death control.” said.