Foto © ANDBZ/ABACA
The discovery was made in Maastricht during repair work in an ancient church after a partial collapse of the floor. During the survey of the nave of the building, the history of which dates back at least to the 13th century, archaeologists discovered a burial site that attracted special attention of specialists.
According to the local publication L1Nieuws, the skeleton was located near the former altar, an area where nobles and other important persons were buried in the past. A French coin was also found near the remains, reinforcing speculation that the burial may have belonged to a French officer of the 17th century.
Historical data indicate that d’Artagnan, who served at the courts of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, died in Maastricht on June 25, 1673 during the siege of the city during the Dutch War. Despite the known circumstances of his death, his burial place has remained unknown until now.
The identity of the musketeer over the centuries has been covered with legends, and he became widely known thanks to the novel “The Three Musketeers” and its sequels. However, there is very little historical evidence about him, which makes it difficult to accurately identify such finds.
The discovered remains have already been extracted and transferred to the research center in Deventer. In March, specialists collected DNA samples, which were sent for analysis to a laboratory in Munich. The results of the examination may clarify whether the found skeleton is really related to one of the most famous figures of French history.
Archaeologist Wim Dijkman, who has been searching for a possible burial site of d’Artagnan for almost 30 years, emphasizes that it is too early to draw final conclusions, but does not rule out that the find may have significant historical significance.
