Archaeological Excavations at Notre Dame Reveal Layers of History

Uncovering Ancient Paris

As tourists gather under the summer sun, waiting to get a glimpse of the Notre Dame Cathedral and its gargoyles, something extraordinary is happening just below their feet. An archaeological team delves deep into the earth, unearthing Paris’s history dating back around 2,000 years to Roman times.

The Significance of the Excavation

Following the 2019 fire that caused Notre Dame’s spire to collapse, the dramatic reconstruction culminated in the cathedral’s reopening in late 2024. Now, plans are underway to revitalize the plaza in front, making it more inviting with trees and shade. The city’s archaeological regulations mandate thorough excavations before any construction, prompting the current dig.

The press has dubbed this endeavor “the excavation of the century.” Lucie Altenburg, curator of Paris’s archaeology unit, conveyed to The Associated Press its potential to significantly enhance the understanding of Paris’s history.

A tourist named Emily Carter from Manchester expressed her sentiment: “It makes Notre Dame feel alive again… You realize another city lies beneath your feet, almost more moving.”

Layers of History Revealed

Archaeologists are uncovering traces of the past starting just 50 centimeters beneath the surface, excavating deeper into a layered history. Often unearthing up to 15 boxes of soil daily, they expose earth untouched for decades.

This phenomenon isn’t unique to Paris; it mirrors the processes in ancient cities like Rome, where the ground has risen by about 9 meters since the fall of the Empire, and Athens, where extensive digging revealed incredible artifacts when constructing their metro.

Camille Colonna, leading the excavation at Notre Dame, noted the medieval houses packed around the plaza when the cathedral was built in 1163. Their foundations provide unique insights into the buried past.

Discoveries Beneath the Surface

Beneath these structures lie Merovingian and Carolingian grain silos along with remnants of a dense Roman neighborhood. Layers of history stack in four meters of soil, representing two millennia worth of civilization.

Yasmine Benali, a young archaeology student, remarked, “It makes the city feel less like a postcard and more like something still being discovered.”

Valuable Findings

The most prized discoveries emerge from the less pleasant locations: deep medieval latrines and rubbish pits. These areas produce complete ceramics, preserved over centuries despite broken plates and animal bones.

Some ceramics have cryptic red inscriptions unexplained by experts, reminiscent of mysterious puzzles. Valentine Breloux, another archaeologist, called these discoveries “astonishing.”

Coins, appearing as corroded discs, show faces such as Roman Emperor Constantine under X-rays, aiding in dating the excavation layers.

Roman Artifacts

Roman relics, highly valued by archaeologists, provide clues about deep historical periods. As Lutecia, Paris’s original name, the city was centered opposite the Seine’s left bank. As the Roman Empire fell, residents retreated to the Île de la Cité, fortifying it with recycled stones from older structures.

Colonna’s team claims a Roman threshold discovered was repurposed as paving material in later construction.

Ongoing Archaeological Efforts

Every item excavated is transported to Paris’s archaeology center, described by Colonna as a “massive archaeological warehouse.” While projects like Notre Dame’s excavation spring from planned urban beautification, they reflect similar finds like dinosaur fossils uncovered by quarry workers.

The upcoming completion of the revamped plaza by 2028 will create a shaded area with trees and cooling elements like water flowing over stones. This initiative prepares the city for progressively hotter summers due to climate change.

Future visitors will enjoy waiting under tree canopies, contrasting with current conditions under the glaring sun.

The former underground parking near Notre Dame will reopen as a visitor center, offering views of the Seine. Until that moment, the excavation team at Notre Dame aims to dig deeper into pre-Roman Gaulish history, seeking earlier cultural remnants.

Altenburg expressed hope for unprecedented historical breakthroughs: “The goal is to uncover earlier stages of Paris’s history than ever achieved before.”