Archaeologist Arrested for Alleged Theft of Bones Attributed to d'Artagnan in France

An archaeologist has been arrested in France for allegedly removing a humerus and teeth from a skeleton possibly belonging to Charles de Batz de Castelmore, known as d'Artagnan, the historical figure who inspired Alexandre Dumas's character in The Three Musketeers. The remains were found at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Wolder, a district near Maastricht. The archaeologist was conducting historical and scientific research on the bones but removed them without official authorization, leading to an investigation for misappropriation of historical heritage. French authorities are investigating the authenticity of the remains and their link to d'Artagnan, captain of King Louis XIV's musketeers, who died in 1673 during the Siege of Maastricht. The case has sparked debates on ethics in archaeology, heritage preservation, and research limits involving historical human remains.