Tuesday, 6th May 2008 (284 views)

Gold chalices and coins have been found by archaeologists in south-west France in what appears to be an in-tact burial chamber of a member of the Knights Templar, according to reports.

Netnewsledger.com states that the objects were contained in wooden chests surrounding a plinth upon which the mummified body was resting.

The site adds that the remains were wrapped in a shroud bearing the "distinctive red cross of the Knights Templar".

The hidden tomb, which has been described as an "unprecedented" discovery, could be one of a series of secret locations the ancient order of Christian knights used to bury artefacts after their dissolution by King Phillip IV of France in 1307.

Filmmaker Bruce Burgess, who has recorded the find for his documentary Bloodline, told the site that some of the relics rumoured to be hidden in these legendary secret chambers include "the embalmed remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene".

Jean-Pierre Giaud, commissioner of archaeology for France's ministry of culture and communication said the find was "intriguing" but that it is "too early to tell how important it is".

He added that the ministry will conduct a full survey of the site as soon as possible.

The Knights Templar were a military order formed after the First Crusade to guard European pilgrims on their journey to the holy land. At its height, the organisation had between 15,000 and 20,000 members.

 

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