A potential archaeological breakthrough in Maastricht, Netherlands, has been significantly hampered by a critical error in excavation procedures. Months after archaeologists identified a skeleton near the altar of St. Peter and Paul Church, which may belong to Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan—the historical figure who inspired Alexandre Dumas’ "The Three Musketeers"—local officials have announced a major setback. The remains were discovered in February, and their location near the altar was particularly promising, as contemporary documents suggest d’Artagnan was buried on consecrated ground in the vicinity after his death during a siege near Maastricht on June 25, 1673.
However, on July 2, the Municipality of Maastricht revealed that excavation work conducted prior to the official March 13 dig was not carried out according to standard archaeological protocols. "As a result, a significant amount of archaeological information has been irreversibly lost," the municipality stated. When the official excavation began, only approximately 50% of the skeleton was in its original position, and about a third of the skull was missing. The municipality noted that during the initial, undocumented work, various bones were collected, making the situation highly complex.
The retired archaeologist who led the initial excavation, Wim Dijkman, was arrested in May for refusing to surrender the bones to authorities, according to NL Times. Dijkman had previously told Reuters that the investigation had become a "top-level investigation" aimed at confirming the identity of the person killed near Maastricht.
Officials have emphasized that it remains unclear whether the skeleton definitively belongs to d’Artagnan. Preliminary isotope analysis indicated that 27% to 30% of the individual's diet consisted of fish. Researchers find this finding inconsistent with the known lifestyle and likely diet of d’Artagnan. While fish was available in 17th-century Paris and Lille, and salted fish was consumed inland, it is uncertain if such a diet was common for Catholic musketeers from France during that era. This dietary information makes identification as d’Artagnan less likely, though it cannot be entirely ruled out.
The church where the remains were found has origins dating back to at least the 13th century. The excavation pit was opened in the floor during repairs following a partial floor collapse in February 2026.