Home / Science / D'Artagnan's Secret Dig Sparks Controversy
D'Artagnan's Secret Dig Sparks Controversy
13 Sep
Summary
- Amateur archaeologists secretly excavated a skeleton near Maastricht.
- The remains may belong to the historical figure D'Artagnan.
- Local authorities have taken over, citing procedural errors.
A clandestine excavation in the Netherlands, spearheaded by retired archaeologist Wim Dijkman, has uncovered a skeleton that might be the historical D'Artagnan. The dig took place in an old church near Maastricht without official permits.
Local authorities intervened in mid-March 2026, taking control of the site due to concerns over irregular procedures. They stated that crucial archaeological information was irreversibly lost. The remains, initially sent for carbon dating and DNA analysis, faced nullification by the town due to unverified sampling.
Dijkman was briefly detained by police when he refused to relinquish bones he had retrieved from Munich. A new DNA analysis is currently underway and is expected to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027.
The town of Maastricht has raised doubts about the skeleton's identity, citing carbon dating and dietary analysis inconsistent with D'Artagnan's known life. Legal repercussions are a concern for some involved, while the quest for clarity continues amidst controversy.
