The Municipal Council of Rennes-le-Château and its application for archaeological investigation's.
in conjunction with Paul Saussez &
ARKχEOS
cvsprl
Posted 18/04/2013
Today Paul Saussez kindly updated me with the proposals for his attempts to undertake an archaeological excavation at Rennes-le-Château. This has been translated using Google translate and a French dictionary and my own limited knowledge of the language! I would like to thank Paul very much for keeping me updated on the projects' important proposals and in the lengthy negotiations which are required in this endeavour. Thanks Paul.
Today Paul Saussez kindly updated me with the proposals for his attempts to undertake an archaeological excavation at Rennes-le-Château. This has been translated using Google translate and a French dictionary and my own limited knowledge of the language! I would like to thank Paul very much for keeping me updated on the projects' important proposals and in the lengthy negotiations which are required in this endeavour. Thanks Paul.
Summary of actions taken pursuant to the warrant issued by the Municipal Council of Rennes-le-Château on 26/08/2011 to establish an application for an archaeological investigation.
1. 05/09/2011
- Letter to the Mayor of RLC for acknowledgment and acceptance of the mandate.
2. 12/09/2011
- Letters to the Mayor of RLC in order to obtain additional information.
3. 24/11/2011
- Statement by the Mayor of RLC relating to documents on the GPR investigations conducted in the church by the Heygate team in 2008.
4. 15/10/2011
- Letter to the archaeologist Marie-Elise GARDEL requesting an interview.
5. 17/10/2011
- Various letters to key institutional foundations - Answers in the negative from the Fondation de France, the Bettencourt Foundation, the Foundation EDF - No other answers/replies.
6. 08/12/2011
- Interview with Ms. GARDEL in the premises of the Secular Amicale de Carcassonne (ALC). Mr SAUSSEZ highlights the following arguments:
- The City Council will submit an application to archaeological operation on its behalf;
- Previous research, including the master's thesis in Art History written by Brigitte in LESCURE 1978, the ground penetrating radar investigations conducted and completed in 2001 and 2002 by the EISENMAN team with interpretation of the G-TEC office, which conducted its own initiative in 2005, as well as the Heygate team in 2008, although the latter information is incomplete and of little use;
- A strictly historical record established by them on the basis of research undertaken since 1997 and published in the form of conferences, CD-ROMs and brochures between 2002 and 2011.
Ms. GARDEL agrees to participate in the project, subject to a site visit and an interview with the Mayor. Ms. GARDEL informed that the association ALC approved for archaeological operations, was mandated to establish an inventory of the assets of some 24 towns of the Community of Communes Couiza; the responsibility for this task is to Mr Frédéric LOPPE et Mr Rodrigue TRETON. Ms. GARDEL believes it would be a good strategy to use as a springboard to interest DRAC in the project for excavations in the church of St. Mary Magdalene.
7. 09/12/2011
- Oral report to Mr PAINCO (Mayor RLC) of the interview with Mrs. GARDEL on 08/12/2011.
8. 18/12/2011
- Letters to Mrs. GARDEL thanking her for the interview from 08/12/2012.
9. 29/12/2011
- At the request of Mr. LOPPE, communicating a list and inventory of heritage items at RLC that would be interesting, which were already largely in the record presented to Ms. GARDEL.
10. 01/01/2012
- first interim report of the action taken addressed to Mr PAINCO.
11. 22/03/2012
- Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, Mr Moreau, M. CARBONEL (Mayor RLC), Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON, Mr JF Modat (ALC)
Mr SAUSSEZ reports on steps taken within the framework of his mandate, which led him to make contact with Ms. GARDEL in his interview on 08/12/13 and the agreement of the latter to
participate in the project.
MM. LOPPE, TRETON & MODAT presented an update on the inventory of archaeological heritage to the ALC and was charged by the Community of Communes of Couiza, which is based on the work of those municipalities - the opportunity - if they wish - to order one or the other more specific studies, they also expose the administrative constraints faced by the archaeological excavations in distinguishing between "programmed" & "preventive" operations. According to Mr LOPPE an application for archaeological operation - even well argued - would have very little chance of success unless it was within the framework of "preventive" excavations and requested that the Mayor consider - as a "Plan B" - drainage work around the church or underfloor heating.
Mr PAINCO said that drainage work had already been done, but that one could actually consider - in order to better preserve the interiors of the church- underfloor heating.
Mr SAUSSEZ proposed to develop a project proposal and budget estimate for this work.
Visit to the exterior of the church (south side) with MM. LOPPE, and TRETON & MODAT.
12. 07/05/2012
- Communication to the City Council a draft and a budget estimate (± € 40 000) for a heating of the church by hot air drive through floor grilles.
13. 21/11/2012 -
Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, M. CARBONEL (Mayor RLC), Mr Marchesi (CRMH / DRAC), Mr Chr. ROBERT (STAP), Ms. M.-E. GARDEL, Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON, Mr ENGELBERT (ALC).
Mr SAUSSEZ elaborates on the project to the City Council to highlight the historical and archaeological heritage of RLC, the existence and quality of which are undeniable (church, stately tomb, castle walls, etc..) but that it has been neglected because of the excitement from the public since ± 50 years because of an alleged "treasure" discovered by the abbé Saunière in the nineteenth century, and whose exploitation by countless book authors and their assumptions and films which have polluted any scientific debate and deters serious historians and archaeologists.
The municipality wants to restore the heritage of RLC to its rightful place in the history of the region - of which several pages are still needing to be written - of the Razes and the Languedoc, without wanting to stifle concerns over the "imaginary" that attract tens of thousands of visitors per year to the village. Mr SAUSSEZ mentioned the parish register of the eighteenth century in the possession of the City Council, which certifies the existence under St. Mary Magdalene Church a stately tomb of the Lords which may date back to the founding of the comital castrum (castle?) and to the Counts in the early ninth century, and whose update could greatly contribute to improving the knowledge of the local and regional history. While welcoming the archaeological operation and its project initiated by the City Council - all interested parties, Mr PAINCO confirms - the will, for his part, of the inhabitants of Rennes to have a better knowledge of the history of their village and its surroundings.
MM. Marchesi and ROBERT remind all of the restrictive rules imposed by the administration to any project or 'programmed' excavations, and that the alleged existence of a stately tomb of the Lords is not a sufficient argument in itself - to excavate. In this respect - RLC is not unique, and it would be necessary to establish an historical and archaeological inventory that was discovered by research, the results published (even in popularized form) and that any archaeological operation must be part of a wider common project (including economic development) and it should regularly inform administrative authorities (CRMH / DRAC and STAP) and associate them with work projects of the municipality.
Mr SAUSSEZ answers that besides the great general works [of the region (Ed)] - (HGL, etc..), many serious studies had been published on the history of Languedoc, Razes and of RLC in particular (including "Rennes and its Last Lords' by René Descadeillas, etc.), but notes that they did not know -., and continue not to know - the dissemination of works that are more "fanciful".
Ms. GARDEL recalls that her association (ALC) has been commissioned in order to establish a comprehensive inventory of the archaeological heritage of some 24 municipalities making up the Community of Communes Couiza, this inventory is underway and should be completed during the first quarter of 2013.
On the above basis, it was agreed to proceed as follows:
• Once the inventory is submitted to CCC officials, the mayor of RLC may send a written request to the ALC for a more detailed study of specific heritage of the town;
• Then they will point out any items that require archaeological work;
• where appropriate, apply for surveys (previously authorized by the municipality) to the DRAC.
After the meeting, participants perform a site visit:
- Tour Magdala (external): finding some consolidation work (hoops, etc.).
- North Walls: scree observation; consolidation work to be considered;
- Church (inside): observation of a large crack in the pillar to the right of the entrance, recently clogged;
- Church (outside): examination of the north wall (nave and bell tower), differences in equipment.
14. 26/02/2013
- Presentation by the ALC of the inventory, officially entitled "Study of History and Archaeology for the Development of the Built Heritage of the Communes of Couiza" to Couiza Council Community - and a copy given to each of the mayors for their community.
15. 04/03/2013
- Mr PAINCO transmits to Mr SAUSSEZ an inventory on RLC - Mr SAUSSEZ requests organizing a meeting point for items that require a more specific study.
16. 02/04/2013
- Letters to Mr. Fr LOPPE (ALC) after exhaustive inventory analysis on RLC.
17. 03/04/2013
- Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, Mrs ....................... (Mayor RLC), Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON (ALC).
Mr SAUSSEZ gives participants - for information - the list of recommendations from the inventory, which covers some 27 heritage elements, they range from simple (set safe place in the state preservations, etc..) to the more complex (acquisition of the castle, consolidation works, etc..).
Mr SAUSSEZ then makes a number of comments in relation to the strategy suggested by Ms. GARDEL during his interview on 08/12/2011, that builds on the inventory work to construct an argument acceptable to the authorities (CRMH, DRAC, STAP, etc..) in order to advance the
original plan of the City, which is the update of the stately tomb 'of the Lords' in the church of Rennes-le-Château:
- Presentation of Mary Magdalene church is very succinct and has a number of elements, some of which are in the museum, such as the pillar and altar table, the so-called "Knights" slab, etc.., which deserve a more sophisticated approach (especially in terms of dating), and especially as they support a relevant assertion that a "... Romanesque church replaced a Carolingian sanctuary ";
- There was a door [or 'window of opportunity' [Ed]] opened to promising research in the direction of this " Carolingian sanctuary' but this was soon closed after: "... there is reason to fear that the archaeological levels have been destroyed in whole or in part on this occasion."
- The parish register held from 1694 to 1725 which is now part of the municipal archives and proves the existence of a stately tomb of the Lords in the church, deserved to be mentioned, that not only would it have opened a door to even more specific research but also made a cornerstone of the construction of an admissible argument by the authorities. About the crack in the pillar to the right of the entrance, which was enlarged and extended into the vault, Mr SAUSSEZ reiterates his concern about the stability of the building and said he had been warned about the subject by ABF (Mr.MEILLON), the DRAC (M. DE LABRIFFE) and the Mayor (Mr. HUILLIER) - there are more than 7 years (29/07/2005) of letters which remained unanswered and it is doubtful that the recent sealing of the gap has solved the problem.
Mr PAINCO reported that the treatment of the crack is made in accordance with Mr ROBERT (STAP) in "maintenance" and he also noted that it will take care of the floor of the sacristy collapses. MM. LOPPE and TRETON spoke on this last point advocating - vis-à-vis the administrative authorities;
- on the urgent situation that has several components:
- North side Ramparts: it is necessary to determine if these works are in the private or public sector;
- Mill at a place called "Le Moulin" - restoration is planned with BATIPOLE of Limoux;
- Chateau: property of Mrs. France Fatin, who sold the usufruct to her brother Henry; these people are very old and do not want to be associated with "strangers" on the possible sale of their well, but a buyer would buy with a view that could perform restoration work.
To check if preventive interventions are needed, the City shall notify the ALC list projected by the municipality and their start dates, ie work:
- Development of a 'aire de camping-cars' near the chateau;
- Moving the treatment plant over a distance of ± 600 m;
- Creation of a "natural" parking area near the mill;
- Redevelopment of the cemetery;
- Liaison between the cemetery and the grave of Saunière, which is a private plot in a public domain.
Mr SAUSSEZ returned to the original plan to update the stately tomb of the Lords, MM.LOPPE & TRETON remembered what was said earlier, namely that there would need to be synthesis of the existing data in the field of historical and archaeological studies and then formulate a project or program in scientific terms, economic impact, etc.. Mr TRETON indicates that the task could be difficult due to the loss of many archives at the time of the Wars of Religion, that if still available there would have been therefore reliable sources for ± 500 years. MM. PAINCO and SAUSSEZ found that the debate is circular: you can not prepare a scientific draft before making a historical synthesis, but the sources fail to establish ...
Ultimately, Mr SAUSSEZ asked ALC to formulate a proper strategy that takes into account the original project which Ms. GARDEL requested, and the operation of the inventory - as it was recommended in relation to this project.
MM. LOPPE & TRETON agreed to transmit an encrypted short proposal, they nevertheless also wish to visit the chateau, Mr SAUSSEZ also recommended visiting the underground aqueducts and to take notice of the parish register of the eighteenth century held in the safe at the City Hall and in all these things Mr PAINCO can facilitate them.
Mr SAUSSEZ stated that various associations that revolve around RLC are interested in the project and could intervene in a manner to be agreed, particularly with the Mayor in support of the cost of this additional study.
Paul SAUSSEZ
Architect
ISASLB
Member of the Scientific Research Society of the Aude.
1. 05/09/2011
- Letter to the Mayor of RLC for acknowledgment and acceptance of the mandate.
2. 12/09/2011
- Letters to the Mayor of RLC in order to obtain additional information.
3. 24/11/2011
- Statement by the Mayor of RLC relating to documents on the GPR investigations conducted in the church by the Heygate team in 2008.
4. 15/10/2011
- Letter to the archaeologist Marie-Elise GARDEL requesting an interview.
5. 17/10/2011
- Various letters to key institutional foundations - Answers in the negative from the Fondation de France, the Bettencourt Foundation, the Foundation EDF - No other answers/replies.
6. 08/12/2011
- Interview with Ms. GARDEL in the premises of the Secular Amicale de Carcassonne (ALC). Mr SAUSSEZ highlights the following arguments:
- The City Council will submit an application to archaeological operation on its behalf;
- Previous research, including the master's thesis in Art History written by Brigitte in LESCURE 1978, the ground penetrating radar investigations conducted and completed in 2001 and 2002 by the EISENMAN team with interpretation of the G-TEC office, which conducted its own initiative in 2005, as well as the Heygate team in 2008, although the latter information is incomplete and of little use;
- A strictly historical record established by them on the basis of research undertaken since 1997 and published in the form of conferences, CD-ROMs and brochures between 2002 and 2011.
Ms. GARDEL agrees to participate in the project, subject to a site visit and an interview with the Mayor. Ms. GARDEL informed that the association ALC approved for archaeological operations, was mandated to establish an inventory of the assets of some 24 towns of the Community of Communes Couiza; the responsibility for this task is to Mr Frédéric LOPPE et Mr Rodrigue TRETON. Ms. GARDEL believes it would be a good strategy to use as a springboard to interest DRAC in the project for excavations in the church of St. Mary Magdalene.
7. 09/12/2011
- Oral report to Mr PAINCO (Mayor RLC) of the interview with Mrs. GARDEL on 08/12/2011.
8. 18/12/2011
- Letters to Mrs. GARDEL thanking her for the interview from 08/12/2012.
9. 29/12/2011
- At the request of Mr. LOPPE, communicating a list and inventory of heritage items at RLC that would be interesting, which were already largely in the record presented to Ms. GARDEL.
10. 01/01/2012
- first interim report of the action taken addressed to Mr PAINCO.
11. 22/03/2012
- Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, Mr Moreau, M. CARBONEL (Mayor RLC), Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON, Mr JF Modat (ALC)
Mr SAUSSEZ reports on steps taken within the framework of his mandate, which led him to make contact with Ms. GARDEL in his interview on 08/12/13 and the agreement of the latter to
participate in the project.
MM. LOPPE, TRETON & MODAT presented an update on the inventory of archaeological heritage to the ALC and was charged by the Community of Communes of Couiza, which is based on the work of those municipalities - the opportunity - if they wish - to order one or the other more specific studies, they also expose the administrative constraints faced by the archaeological excavations in distinguishing between "programmed" & "preventive" operations. According to Mr LOPPE an application for archaeological operation - even well argued - would have very little chance of success unless it was within the framework of "preventive" excavations and requested that the Mayor consider - as a "Plan B" - drainage work around the church or underfloor heating.
Mr PAINCO said that drainage work had already been done, but that one could actually consider - in order to better preserve the interiors of the church- underfloor heating.
Mr SAUSSEZ proposed to develop a project proposal and budget estimate for this work.
Visit to the exterior of the church (south side) with MM. LOPPE, and TRETON & MODAT.
12. 07/05/2012
- Communication to the City Council a draft and a budget estimate (± € 40 000) for a heating of the church by hot air drive through floor grilles.
13. 21/11/2012 -
Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, M. CARBONEL (Mayor RLC), Mr Marchesi (CRMH / DRAC), Mr Chr. ROBERT (STAP), Ms. M.-E. GARDEL, Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON, Mr ENGELBERT (ALC).
Mr SAUSSEZ elaborates on the project to the City Council to highlight the historical and archaeological heritage of RLC, the existence and quality of which are undeniable (church, stately tomb, castle walls, etc..) but that it has been neglected because of the excitement from the public since ± 50 years because of an alleged "treasure" discovered by the abbé Saunière in the nineteenth century, and whose exploitation by countless book authors and their assumptions and films which have polluted any scientific debate and deters serious historians and archaeologists.
The municipality wants to restore the heritage of RLC to its rightful place in the history of the region - of which several pages are still needing to be written - of the Razes and the Languedoc, without wanting to stifle concerns over the "imaginary" that attract tens of thousands of visitors per year to the village. Mr SAUSSEZ mentioned the parish register of the eighteenth century in the possession of the City Council, which certifies the existence under St. Mary Magdalene Church a stately tomb of the Lords which may date back to the founding of the comital castrum (castle?) and to the Counts in the early ninth century, and whose update could greatly contribute to improving the knowledge of the local and regional history. While welcoming the archaeological operation and its project initiated by the City Council - all interested parties, Mr PAINCO confirms - the will, for his part, of the inhabitants of Rennes to have a better knowledge of the history of their village and its surroundings.
MM. Marchesi and ROBERT remind all of the restrictive rules imposed by the administration to any project or 'programmed' excavations, and that the alleged existence of a stately tomb of the Lords is not a sufficient argument in itself - to excavate. In this respect - RLC is not unique, and it would be necessary to establish an historical and archaeological inventory that was discovered by research, the results published (even in popularized form) and that any archaeological operation must be part of a wider common project (including economic development) and it should regularly inform administrative authorities (CRMH / DRAC and STAP) and associate them with work projects of the municipality.
Mr SAUSSEZ answers that besides the great general works [of the region (Ed)] - (HGL, etc..), many serious studies had been published on the history of Languedoc, Razes and of RLC in particular (including "Rennes and its Last Lords' by René Descadeillas, etc.), but notes that they did not know -., and continue not to know - the dissemination of works that are more "fanciful".
Ms. GARDEL recalls that her association (ALC) has been commissioned in order to establish a comprehensive inventory of the archaeological heritage of some 24 municipalities making up the Community of Communes Couiza, this inventory is underway and should be completed during the first quarter of 2013.
On the above basis, it was agreed to proceed as follows:
• Once the inventory is submitted to CCC officials, the mayor of RLC may send a written request to the ALC for a more detailed study of specific heritage of the town;
• Then they will point out any items that require archaeological work;
• where appropriate, apply for surveys (previously authorized by the municipality) to the DRAC.
After the meeting, participants perform a site visit:
- Tour Magdala (external): finding some consolidation work (hoops, etc.).
- North Walls: scree observation; consolidation work to be considered;
- Church (inside): observation of a large crack in the pillar to the right of the entrance, recently clogged;
- Church (outside): examination of the north wall (nave and bell tower), differences in equipment.
14. 26/02/2013
- Presentation by the ALC of the inventory, officially entitled "Study of History and Archaeology for the Development of the Built Heritage of the Communes of Couiza" to Couiza Council Community - and a copy given to each of the mayors for their community.
15. 04/03/2013
- Mr PAINCO transmits to Mr SAUSSEZ an inventory on RLC - Mr SAUSSEZ requests organizing a meeting point for items that require a more specific study.
16. 02/04/2013
- Letters to Mr. Fr LOPPE (ALC) after exhaustive inventory analysis on RLC.
17. 03/04/2013
- Meeting with the Mayor of RLC in the presence of: Mr A. PAINCO, Mrs ....................... (Mayor RLC), Mr Fr LOPPE, Mr R. TRETON (ALC).
Mr SAUSSEZ gives participants - for information - the list of recommendations from the inventory, which covers some 27 heritage elements, they range from simple (set safe place in the state preservations, etc..) to the more complex (acquisition of the castle, consolidation works, etc..).
Mr SAUSSEZ then makes a number of comments in relation to the strategy suggested by Ms. GARDEL during his interview on 08/12/2011, that builds on the inventory work to construct an argument acceptable to the authorities (CRMH, DRAC, STAP, etc..) in order to advance the
original plan of the City, which is the update of the stately tomb 'of the Lords' in the church of Rennes-le-Château:
- Presentation of Mary Magdalene church is very succinct and has a number of elements, some of which are in the museum, such as the pillar and altar table, the so-called "Knights" slab, etc.., which deserve a more sophisticated approach (especially in terms of dating), and especially as they support a relevant assertion that a "... Romanesque church replaced a Carolingian sanctuary ";
- There was a door [or 'window of opportunity' [Ed]] opened to promising research in the direction of this " Carolingian sanctuary' but this was soon closed after: "... there is reason to fear that the archaeological levels have been destroyed in whole or in part on this occasion."
- The parish register held from 1694 to 1725 which is now part of the municipal archives and proves the existence of a stately tomb of the Lords in the church, deserved to be mentioned, that not only would it have opened a door to even more specific research but also made a cornerstone of the construction of an admissible argument by the authorities. About the crack in the pillar to the right of the entrance, which was enlarged and extended into the vault, Mr SAUSSEZ reiterates his concern about the stability of the building and said he had been warned about the subject by ABF (Mr.MEILLON), the DRAC (M. DE LABRIFFE) and the Mayor (Mr. HUILLIER) - there are more than 7 years (29/07/2005) of letters which remained unanswered and it is doubtful that the recent sealing of the gap has solved the problem.
Mr PAINCO reported that the treatment of the crack is made in accordance with Mr ROBERT (STAP) in "maintenance" and he also noted that it will take care of the floor of the sacristy collapses. MM. LOPPE and TRETON spoke on this last point advocating - vis-à-vis the administrative authorities;
- on the urgent situation that has several components:
- North side Ramparts: it is necessary to determine if these works are in the private or public sector;
- Mill at a place called "Le Moulin" - restoration is planned with BATIPOLE of Limoux;
- Chateau: property of Mrs. France Fatin, who sold the usufruct to her brother Henry; these people are very old and do not want to be associated with "strangers" on the possible sale of their well, but a buyer would buy with a view that could perform restoration work.
To check if preventive interventions are needed, the City shall notify the ALC list projected by the municipality and their start dates, ie work:
- Development of a 'aire de camping-cars' near the chateau;
- Moving the treatment plant over a distance of ± 600 m;
- Creation of a "natural" parking area near the mill;
- Redevelopment of the cemetery;
- Liaison between the cemetery and the grave of Saunière, which is a private plot in a public domain.
Mr SAUSSEZ returned to the original plan to update the stately tomb of the Lords, MM.LOPPE & TRETON remembered what was said earlier, namely that there would need to be synthesis of the existing data in the field of historical and archaeological studies and then formulate a project or program in scientific terms, economic impact, etc.. Mr TRETON indicates that the task could be difficult due to the loss of many archives at the time of the Wars of Religion, that if still available there would have been therefore reliable sources for ± 500 years. MM. PAINCO and SAUSSEZ found that the debate is circular: you can not prepare a scientific draft before making a historical synthesis, but the sources fail to establish ...
Ultimately, Mr SAUSSEZ asked ALC to formulate a proper strategy that takes into account the original project which Ms. GARDEL requested, and the operation of the inventory - as it was recommended in relation to this project.
MM. LOPPE & TRETON agreed to transmit an encrypted short proposal, they nevertheless also wish to visit the chateau, Mr SAUSSEZ also recommended visiting the underground aqueducts and to take notice of the parish register of the eighteenth century held in the safe at the City Hall and in all these things Mr PAINCO can facilitate them.
Mr SAUSSEZ stated that various associations that revolve around RLC are interested in the project and could intervene in a manner to be agreed, particularly with the Mayor in support of the cost of this additional study.
Paul SAUSSEZ
Architect
ISASLB
Member of the Scientific Research Society of the Aude.
I hope this translation gives a flavour of how negotiations are proceeding in relation to RLC and any excavation. If there are any errors, they are mine alone and i apologise in advance ...