Archaeologist Wim Dijkman told CNN on March 26 that the remains of the famous French musketeer D’Artagnan may have been uncovered. The discovery was made beneath the altar at the St. Peter and Paul Church in the southern Dutch town of Maastricht, Netherlands. The skeleton, buried in a tomb, was found with a small bronze coin minted in 1660 and a musket bullet. This matches the historical accounts that the musketeer was shot in the throat by a musket ball during the French siege of Maastricht in 1673.
D'Artagnan, whose full name was Charles de Batz de Castelmore, was immortalized in Alexandre Dumas' novel 'The Three Musketeers,' published in 1844, and more recently in pop culture in innumerable movies and TV series adaptations.
The archaeologist responsible for the discovery is still waiting for the results of tests to evaluate DNA matches and strontium isotope analysis, which will determine the ancestry and birthplace of the body. He stressed that archaeology is a science and needs scientific proof beyond hypothesis and plausibility.
Archaeologists often patch the link between historical writings and physical evidence, enabling us to have a more accurate picture of our past. They have discovered many treasures and many historic sites, impressive monuments, and valuable artifacts.
Take a look through the gallery and explore some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history.