Errors during excavation could make identifying possible d'Artagnan remains impossible

Carelessness during the excavation of the skeleton believed to be French musketeer d’Artagnan in Maastricht could make possible identification impossible, sources closely involved in the investigation told L1. Bone material was disturbed and even touched with bare hands, complicating DNA research immensely, the sources said.

The skeleton is currently at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Deventer for investigation and identification. “50 to 80 percent of the skeleton has been disturbed. The remains have been handled in such a way that a clear result is no longer possible,” an involved expert told the regional broadcaster, asking to remain anonymous. Researchers are unable to distinguish whether DNA originates from the bones or from the person who excavated and touched them.

Retired archaeologist Wim Dijkman started excavating the skeleton in the Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk in early February, without a permit from the municipality of Maastricht. When the church board informed the municipality about this on March 2, a large part of the skeleton had already been exposed. The municipality then drew up an official plan for an emergency excavation, which resumed under municipal supervision on March 13.

According to L1’s source, Wim Dijkman failed to record, or did so very poorly, exactly what remains he removed from the grave and where they were found. Various loose bone fragments were “thrown together” in plastic containers, the source said.

A spokesperson for the church board confirmed that bit. "Dijkman had two blue Albert Heijn bags with him when he had to hand over the investigation to the municipality of Maastricht. Inside were plastic ice cream containers in which all the pieces were placed loosely together. These were then handed over to Saxion."

The Saxion researchers are now trying to determine which remains are part of the skeleton and which are not. "As a result, they now have to examine everything bone by bone. It is quite a puzzle that takes a lot of time and means we can no longer properly determine several things,” the broadcaster’s source said.

There are also photos and video footage showing Dijkman standing with his feet inside the grave while he exposed the bones. “He was literally standing on top of the skeleton; who knows what damage that caused, it is that bad,” the source said. “Archeologists normally clear a large area around the remains to be able to dig carefully and prevent this. But Dijkman did not do that.”

The events have hit the church board hard. According to the church, Dijkman asked for speaking time at a church board meeting in 2024 and presented himself as a leading expert, with diplomas, certificates, and work experience. “We are now hearing from other archaeologists in retrospect that his working method falls far below the standard of a professional archaeologist,” a spokesperson for the church board said.

The conflict between Dijkman and the municipality has since escalated to the point that the retired archeologist was arrested earlier this month. He allegedly picked up some of the skeleton’s bones and refused to return them.

The municipality of Maastricht acknowledged the concerns regarding the investigation into the skeleton, but it cannot comment on the matter further. The responsible alderman told L1 that he is not an expert in this field, so he has no choice but to wait and see what the research team will produce.

Dijkman also refused to comment to the broadcaster, saying he first wants to speak directly with researchers from Saxion about “what is going on.”