Joan of Arc “Relics” Confirmed as Fakes
According to Discovery News:
The so-called “relics of Joan of Arc,” overseen by the Archbishop of Tours in Chinon, France, do not contain the charred remains of the Catholic saint.
Rather, the artifacts consist of a mummified cat leg bone and human rib, both dating to the 6th-3rd century B.C., according to a new study.
Filed under: Archaeology, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on January 21st, 2010
D’oh! Seriously, though. I hate to hear when historical artifacts turn out to be fake. It’s exciting to be standing in a museum, knowing that you’re standing in the presence of something that’s existed for centuries; knowing that watch you see has been handled by some of history’s greatest figures.
It’s likely we’ll see more and more cases like this one in the future regarding relics due to our modern science technology. Relics were a great way to attract pilgrims and donations to a church, and these donations often helped finance the building of a church, so it was in the church’s interest to have something of significance to draw followers. Saints’ relics were a great way to do this, as people would come from all over to receive a saint’s blessing, and by the way why you’re here, put some coins in the box and you’ll receive a special blessing.