Archaeologists are uncovering a treasure trove of history just four metres beneath the forecourt of Notre Dame Cathedral, in what French media have dubbed the ‘dig of the century’. The excavation, triggered by the 2019 fire and subsequent plans to revitalise the square, has revealed layers of Parisian life spanning 2,000 years, from Roman times to the present day.
Among the hundreds of artefacts unearthed so far are a fourth-century coin bearing the image of Emperor Constantine and fragments of medieval pottery with mysterious, undeciphered markings. The team has also uncovered the cellars of medieval houses, Merovingian and Carolingian grain pits, and a dense Roman quarter, all stacked within just four metres of earth.
Lucie Altenburg, a conservator with the Paris archaeology unit, said: ‘It’s a rare opportunity for us to work on something that’s tangibly going to make a difference to the history of Paris.’ The excavation has captivated visitors, with Emily Carter, a tourist from Manchester, remarking: ‘It makes Notre Dame feel alive again. You come to see the cathedral, then realise there’s another city under your feet. That’s almost more moving.’
Some of the richest finds have come from deep pits beneath medieval houses that served as latrines and rubbish dumps. Archaeologists have retrieved complete jugs and cups, preserved intact by the soft organic waste. Valentine Breloux, another archaeologist, noted: ‘It’s rare to find complete ceramics.’
The dig continues to yield discoveries, with the team sometimes filling 15 crates a day with artefacts. As Yasmine Benali, a 22-year-old archaeology student, observed: ‘Here you can see the layers – medieval Paris, Roman Paris, maybe even before that. It makes the city feel less like a postcard and more like something still being discovered.’
