Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA section of Notre Dame’s forecourt has been transformed into an active excavation site (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)An extensive archaeological excavation is underway beneath Notre Dame Cathedral's forecourt in Paris, a direct result of the 2019 fire and subsequent plans for urban renewal.Dubbed the "dig of the century," the project has unearthed 20 centuries of history within four metres of earth, revealing layers from Roman times to the medieval period.Significant finds include a fourth-century coin bearing Emperor Constantine's image and medieval pottery shards with mysterious, undeciphered reddish markings.Archaeologists have discovered cellars of medieval homes, Merovingian and Carolingian grain pits, and a dense Roman quarter, with some of the best-preserved items found in ancient latrines.This rare excavation offers a unique insight into Paris's deep history, with hopes to delve even further back to the time of the Gauls, ahead of the cathedral's reopening in late 2024 and the forecourt's transformation into a shaded public space.In fullArchaeologists digging beneath Notre Dame uncover 2,000 years of historyThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Archaeologists are digging beneath Notre Dame cathedral to explore as far back as Roman Paris from 2,000 years ago.

Archaeologists are digging beneath Notre Dame Cathedral to explore as far back as Roman Paris from 2,000 years ago

PARIS (AP) — Wilting in the summer sun, a line of tourists waits to climb Notre Dame cathedral and meet its gargoyles.

An archaeological dig beneath Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is unearthing Roman Paris. The excavation is happening as the square is being renovated to add trees and shade.…

More than a year after France's famed Notre Dame reopened, an archaeological exploration going thousands of years into the history of Paris has begun just metres below the…

Wilting in the summer sun, a line of tourists waits to climb Notre Dame cathedral and meet its gargoyles. Four meters (13 feet) beneath them, a team of...

A team of archaeologists at the iconic cathedral is digging straight down and back in time, to Roman Paris 2,000 years ago.

Archaeologists are digging beneath Notre Dame Cathedral to explore as far back as Roman Paris from 2,000 years ago

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA section of Notre Dame’s forecourt has been…

Archaeologists at Notre-Dame Cathedral are unconvering Roman relics and medieval ruins as Paris digs 4m deep to create a greener square by 2028.

Since Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to the public in 2024 following a devastating fire, it has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. What many don’t realize…

Het plein voor de Notre-Dame moet klimaatbestendig worden, maar eerst doen archeologen onderzoek onder de grond.

Las excavaciones previas a la remodelación de la plaza de la catedral han sacado a la luz restos romanos, estructuras medievales, monedas, cerámicas y objetos que documentan la…

An important dig below Notre-Dame is speculated to be the "dig of the century" for it uncovered around 1,700 years of Paris history in the cathedral's forecourt. Archaeologists…