Months after excitement grew over a possible discovery of the legendary Fourth Musketeer, local authorities announced a significant setback in the investigation.
In February, skeletal remains were uncovered near the altar of St. Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht. The bones may belong to Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan, the musketeer who died during a siege near Maastricht on June 25, 1673. Contemporary records suggest he was buried on consecrated ground close to the site, which made the altar find particularly promising.
On July 2, officials reported that earlier, undocumented work conducted before the formal excavation on March 13 had compromised the archaeological record. The preliminary excavation did not follow standard documentation procedures, resulting in irretrievable loss of contextual information.
When the official dig began, only about half of the skeleton remained in its original position, and roughly a third of the skull was missing. The initial work had collected bones without proper record-keeping.
The retired archaeologist who led the initial excavation was arrested after refusing to hand the bones over to authorities. He claimed he sought certainty about whether the remains were those of the famed musketeer.
At present, officials say it is unclear whether the skeleton is d'Artagnan. Isotope analysis indicates that 27% to 30% of the individual’s diet consisted of fish, a finding that does not align with the known lifestyle and diet of the musketeer and raises questions about typical nutrition among 17th‑century Catholic musketeers.
While the research does not exclude the possibility that the remains belong to d'Artagnan, the current data make such an identification less likely, though it remains a possibility.
