Important Find In Church In Maastricht
Archeologists in Maastricht, Netherlands, believe they may have found relics of the famed Musketeer d’Artagnan, buried under the floor of a church.
They decided to investigate the area, and after some further excavation, they noticed a wall. As they continued to excavate, they uncovered the remains.
An archaeologist was called to the site to complete the excavation process.
Hints Regarding the Remains And d’Artagnan
Numerous pieces of the puzzle found at the site of the remains have intrigued researchers. The skeleton was found directly under the altar, which was at the church about 200 years ago. Places of this nature are believed to be of significant importance for burial.
The following items were recovered near the remains:
- A musket ball, believed to be the shot that caused the death
- A 1660 coin which is believed to have been used in a church service for Louis XIV
Jos Valke believes these are compelling reasons to support the hypothesis that the remains are of Charles de Batz de Castelmore, popularly known as d’Artagnan. d’Artagnan was a military aide to King Louis XIV.
He mentioned that the team became silent when the initial bones were found, as the discovery seemed important.
Scientific Testing Still Underway.
Experts continue to proceed with caution. Archaeologist Wim Dijkman stated that the evidence is promising, but the confirmation is not complete.
He stated that the DNA testing is currently being processed in Germany.
Historical Background of d’Artagnan
d’Artagnan was a real French soldier who served under Louis XIV. He died in 1673 during the Siege of Maastricht after being struck by a musket ball in the throat.
French forces reportedly buried him locally due to summer conditions, near the church area where the discovery was made.
