The Mystery of the Sarcophagus Uncovered by a Wheelchair Ramp in France
©La Renaissance le Bessin
Construction work to create wheelchair access to the cathedral of Bayeux in the Calvados region has revealed a sarcophagus that most likely dates back to the 7th or 8th century A.D.
Archeologists of the Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) cannot believe it: two days of excavations under the nave – to explore the Roman remains covered by the present cathedral – revealed a limestone sarcophagus that weighs nearly two tons.
Two skeletons – one female, the other unidentifiable – with lances and shields were found in the impressive stone casket.
The exceptional thing about this discovery is the inscriptions inside the sarcophagus, that are intact. Over 6 feet deep, the interior walls are entirely covered with inscriptions telling a story, or several stories; they have yet to identify these stories.
The DNA analysis of the teeth and bones of the skeletons and the study of the inscriptions should in the coming months give a more precise idea as to the age of this discovery that, according to the archeologists, could date back to the 7th or 8th century A.D.
Inscriptions on the sarcophagus
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Sources: AFP / France 3 regions / FSSPX.News – 1/7/2018
