Judith or not Judith

An investigation ongoing since 1861

In 1861, Léon Le Métayer-Masselin (a Bernay archaeologist) conducts excavations in the abbey church of Bernay. There, in the choir, he makes a discovery that will spark a scientific debate worthy of the greatest historical investigations. A skeleton resting in a lead coffin and covered with a black marble plaque raises questions among the most learned of the time: could it be Judith of Brittany (982-1017), grandmother of William the Conqueror and founder of the abbey of Bernay? Is the pelvis of the skeleton that of a man or a woman? Can the lead coffin be dated to the 11th century?

To answer these questions, the mayor of Bernay summons a cohort of scholars: doctors, anthropologists, historians, archaeologists, etc. They all come to offer their opinions using the means available in mid-19th century. Without a definitive consensus, the skeleton will ultimately be transferred to the church of la Couture in 1862 where it still rests today at the foot of a new marble plaque identifying it as Judith of Brittany. The lead coffin and the black marble plaque are preserved in the Bernay museum.

In 2027, the museum and the Heritage Service of Bernay reopen the case and present it in the form of a temporary exhibition. What new elements can we bring to this investigation in the 21st century? At the heart of a playful and scientific scenography, visitors are invited to embody a scholar and conduct the investigation: Judith or not Judith? That is the question.

Exhibition curators: Barbara Auger, Morgane Lambert
  
Full price: €5; reduced price: €3; free: first Sunday of the month and under 18 years old