Ancient sarcophagus found under Notre Dame during reconstruction

Archaeologists have found an ancient lead sarcophagus and fragments of a rood screen under Notre Dame cathedral.

The find was unearthed during excavation works inside the church in Paris, which suffered a devastating fire in 2019.

Archaeologists said the lead sarcophagus probably belonged to a high dignitary and said it could date back to the 14th century, which – if confirmed – would make it a spectacular find.

The excavation also revealed a pit immediately below the cathedral floor, which was likely to have been made around 1230, when Notre Dame, one of the oldest examples of French Gothic, was under construction.

Read more: Ukraine and Russia draw up '15-point ceasefire peace plan'

Notre Dame, which dates back to the 12th century, commissioned the excavation works inside the cathedral as a precautionary measure before installing scaffolding needed to restore a 100-metre high wooden roof ridge.

"The floor of the transept crossing has revealed remains of remarkable scientific quality," France's culture minister Roselyne Bachelot said, adding that excavation works have been extended until 25 March.

Read more: BBC newsreader's emotional reaction to hearing of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release

The excavation site lies under a stony layer that dates from the 18th century, but some lower levels go back as far as the 14th, and some even the early 13th century, the Culture Ministry said.

Christophe Besnier, from France's National Archaeological Institute, added: "We were able to send a small camera inside which showed cloth remains, organic matter such as hair and plant remains."

"The fact that these plants are still there indicates that the contents have been very well preserved."

Watch: How the Notre Dame fire took hold

The fire at Notre Dame caused shock in France and around the world.

Tearful Parisians and stunned tourists gazed in disbelief while the inferno raged at the cathedral, which marks the very centre of Paris.

Workers scrambled to shore up Notre Dame's flying buttresses, save its 13th-century stained-glass rose windows and install movement sensors.

In the hours after the blaze, president Emmanuel Macron told a distraught nation that the cathedral would be rebuilt and later promised it would be reopened to worshippers by 2024, when France hosts the Olympic Games.