The body of the poet Joachim du Bellay discovered at Notre-Dame?

During archaeological excavations at Notre-Dame Cathedral, a surprising discovery could solve a centuries-old mystery. A lead sarcophagus, containing a man in his thirties, was unearthed near the crossing of the transept. The latter could well be that of the Renaissance poet, Joachim du Bellay, buried in 1560, according to researchers from Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research).

The analyses carried out on the bones revealed traces of bone tuberculosis, a rare pathology which corresponds to that suffered from Du Bellay. "He was a skilled horseman, he went from Paris to Rome on horseback despite his illness," said anthropologist Éric Crubézy. This identikit portrait fits almost perfectly with the biography of the poet, famous for his collection The Regrets.

However, some experts are calling for caution. "There are still doubts," said Christophe Besnier, head of the excavations, citing an isotope analysis that suggests the individual spent his childhood in the Paris region or in the Rhône-Alpes region, far from the poet's native Anjou.

Alice Leroy