DNA tests to confirm identity of French musketeer D' Artagnan discovered in Maastricht church ruins.
Archaeologists have uncovered what may be the remains of Alexandre d'Artagnan beneath a Dutch parish building, with genetic analysis now underway to verify if this 350-year-old skeleton belongs to the famous fictional musketeer from *The Three Musketeers*. The discovery was made in Maastricht by researchers who are currently testing DNA samples against historical records.
Key Points
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1Archaeologists believe they discovered human remain belonging to French musketeer Charles d'Artagnan beneath the floor of a church altar in Dutch city Maastricht.
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2The skeleton was found buried under tiles by workers after part of it fell, marking over 350 years since his death.
Developments
Perspectives
Workers discovered human remains beneath tiles inside an altar area during renovation work.
— (NBC News)An archaeologist believes the found skeleton belongs to D'Artagnan and may solve his mystery of final resting place more than three centuries after he died in 1673, though DNA testing is currently underway for verification. The subject was fictionalized by Alexandre Dumas.
— (CNN)Archaeologists found the remains at a church near where d'Artagnan appeared as an iconic character; it has been described that death imitated art in this discovery, which occurred 350 years after his legendary musketeer's passing. DNA testing is under way to verify.
— (Nypost)"Musketeers d'Artagnan" remains believed found at a church floor; Jos Valke identifies as the deacon of St Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, where more than 350 years after his death human bones were discovered under tiles.
— (BBC)"Arqueólogos hallaron restos posibles del mosquetero D'Artagnan" en una iglesia holandesa; ADN determinará si el esqueleto encontrado es realmente suyo, marcando un caso de muerte imitando arte tras 350 años.
— (Jornada.com.mx)Workers discovered the skeleton of Charles de Batz d'Artagnan in a collapsed grave beneath an altar at St Peter and Paul Church after DNA testing confirmed his identity through comparison with descendants, alongside corroborating historical clues like burial location details. D'Artagnan was historically killed during Maastricht's 1673 siege but is best known as the fictional hero of Alexandre Dumas' *The Three Musketeers*.
Archaeologist Wim Dijkman discovered what he believes are the skeletal remains and personal effects of French musketeer Charles de Batz, including a 1670 coin found at St. Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht alongside historical accounts linking these items to an individual shot during that year's siege by Louis XIV loyalists who buried him there rather than returning his body home for burial.
Archaeologists at St. Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht have uncovered a grave containing DNA samples from which they are currently testing whether it belongs to Charles de Batz d'Artagnan after his death during the 1673 siege of that city, where he is commemorated by statues but whose remains were previously unknown until this recent discovery.