Archaeological Find at a Knights Templar Site! | Expedition Unknown

This investigation into a Templar commandery has uncovered some truly remarkable findings, revealing insights into the burial practices and lives of the Knights Templar—and possibly leading us closer to understanding their mysterious history and the treasure they left behind. Here’s a breakdown of the events:

The Mysterious Tower and Hidden Niches:

The investigation starts with a tower that seems to be built with unusual niches or recesses in the wall. These niches are placed in a regular pattern, though they don’t resemble any typical structural feature like staircases. The challenge here is that there’s no direct access to the niches from the ground level, and the only way to investigate them is by rappelling from the roof.

The team’s decision to descend from the roof is risky, given the age of the building (dating back to the 12th century), but the only way to explore the niches up close is to lower someone down with repelling gear.

Once at the first set of niches, the team discovers that while many are empty, one niche appears deeper than the others, which could suggest a hidden feature or artifact. However, due to the historical importance of the building, no invasive methods like drilling can be used, so they simply document the findings for later analysis.

The Discovery of Templar Burials:

The real breakthrough comes when the team, after finishing the niche investigation, moves outside to continue their search. Janet, a member of the team, spots an area where the soil has been disturbed, and they begin to dig. The differences in soil color and texture suggest a burial, and it’s soon confirmed that they have stumbled upon a Templar-era burial site.

Key Details:

• The burial is oriented east-west, which is significant because Templars were traditionally buried facing east, towards Jerusalem, in preparation for Christ’s return and the Rapture.
• As they dig deeper, the team uncovers a coin—a silver coin from the 14th or 15th century, confirming the burial’s date as being within the Templar period.
• The condition of the teeth in the buried body suggests that this individual was likely of higher social status, perhaps an important figure within the Templar order, as only the wealthy had access to proper nutrition.

Multiple Burials:

The team’s excavation leads them to a startling discovery: there are not just one burial, but multiple individuals buried in layers, one on top of the other. This suggests that the site was used as a communal burial area, which was typical for Templar commanderies, where monks and knights would be buried in close proximity without individual markers.

• At least three separate burials are uncovered in this pit, indicating that the site was used for a period of time for multiple burials.
• The arms of the deceased are crossed, which is another strong indicator that these individuals were indeed Templar knights, as this was a typical way of burying Templars, symbolizing their monastic vows and commitment to the Order.

The Significance of the Findings:

The most important part of this discovery is not just the burials themselves, but the fact that these individuals were likely Templar knights. The fact that the bodies are buried in a simple, humble manner—without any of the treasures or symbols of wealth we might associate with the Templars—gives insight into the monastic nature of the order. They were monks, after all, and their lives were dedicated to faith and service, not to acquiring material wealth.

However, the mention of treasures is unavoidable. As the team continues to dig and uncover more remains, they half-jokingly wonder if they will eventually find the Holy Grail or some legendary treasure associated with the Templars. While the reality is likely more mundane (these were, after all, humble burials), the allure of the Templar treasure persists. The team plans to continue digging and carefully exploring, hoping to uncover more artifacts or clues that might reveal more about the Templar Order and its mysterious past.

Next Steps:

• The team will need to conduct further analysis on the burial site to confirm whether these bodies belong to high-ranking Templars.
• Given the historical importance of the site, a more thorough, non-invasive investigation will be required to uncover any potential artifacts or clues hidden within the surrounding area.
• There’s also the looming question of whether the Templars might have hidden treasure at this site—coins, relics, or perhaps even documents that could further illuminate the mystery of the Templar legacy.

Conclusion:

This discovery of multiple Templar burials in a commandery tower is an extraordinary find. It sheds light not only on the lives of the Templars but also on their death and burial traditions. The simplicity of the burials, without ornate displays of wealth, challenges some of the myths surrounding the Order and reminds us that the Templars were, above all, monks who took religious vows of poverty and humility.

However, the mystery of their treasures—whether physical or symbolic—lingers, and this site could be the key to understanding more about the legendary Knights Templar. Whether or not the elusive Templar treasure is ever found, these burials provide a glimpse into the real lives of these fascinating historical figures. The investigation is far from over, and with each discovery, the team gets closer to answering some of history’s most enduring questions.