The entrance of the heating at 80 centimeters depth gives more work than was thought, even more so in a church like San Pedro de la Rua. The crypt of the mariscales of Navarre has remained hidden for almost three centuries under the stone slabs, until in June 2010 it was cast into online society. The news came in a click from Estella to the screen of the house.

But the discovery of the crypt has not come as a surprise to archaeologists. In the 1950s, the archivist Goñi Gaztanbide warned that there was something important in that subsoil. Between the Marquis of Cortes and the parishioners of Estella, heirs of the mariscales, a controversy arose in the 16th century, when the Marquis moved his burial to the place closest to the holy one. From these roles of the parish file can be deduced the exact location of the crypt. Marshal Pedro II carried in 1509 the bones of his ancestors from the monastery of La Oliva to San Pedro de la Rúa and the remains of Don Pedro were transferred to this place from Simancas. It was said that it was the “second most important parish” of Navarre, less to rest the most powerful tribes of the kingdom...

Peter II.aren has always been a mystery of death and that has contributed to the myth surrounding him growing. Chronicler Garibai said that his throat was cut – for Christians suicide is fighting the will of God. But he left the door of doubt open, because he added to his story this phrase: “Be true or not.” Centuries later, Arturo Campion was the one who most defended the murder of Pedro II: I saw behind all this “the reason of state, which is the cause of secret deaths.” Historian Pedro Esarte has recently stated that those who defend the theory of suicide use as an argument the “humor” of the marshal, imprisoned for years in the cell of Simancas, but that cannot be proven, according to Esarte, and less when the will has not appeared. Will the discovery of the marshal's tomb help to decipher the mystery? And knowing that it could be there, why haven't you opened the crypt so far?

The fate of the rich

“In Navarre, there has never been any intervention within a church without consensus on a comprehensive restoration project.” This is how the archaeologist of the Government of Navarra, Jesús García, in his office of the Gran Vía de Pamplona, has shown strength. It is now up to San Pedro de la Rúa de Estella to renew his face, for which they have a budget of 5 million euros, within the Plan Navarra 2012. This is the opportunity they have taken to start searching for the secrets of the underground.

At one point, from the beginning of the church excavations, the shield of the mariscales was visible in the central nave, at the height of the main apse. She was cracked, but in good condition, with the chains of Navarre and the lion. About 250 years ago, the crypt was condemned under the staircase of the presbytery and since then nobody entered.

“By opening the lid and lowering the steps you are aware of the historical importance of crypt, but you have to demystify it a little. We knew that the tomb had been reused for several generations...”, says García. At first glance, the bones, the pieces of fabric of the coffins and the iron closures are in disorder. A single archaeologist could work in a small 12-square-meter chamber with a special scaffold. Bones are in very poor condition, much worse than the other 700 bodies found in the church, because inside the crypt a microclimate has been created that has increased humidity. The final destination of the rich. Among the materials found, the archaeologist has highlighted two: a Christ crucified of ceramics and an 18th-century sword with a beautiful bronze handle. All the material has been tested in laboratories in Madrid, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Valladolid, the results of which will soon be published in a scientific journal.

Pedro II, are you there?

Jesus Garcia is nothing optimistic about Peter's bones II.aren: “It’s absolutely impossible to know what they are; in addition, they’re probably not there, because the tomb has been cleaned and few bones found.” Moreover, it is impossible to obtain data on the death of the marsh, carbon tests 14 or the efforts of paleopathologists without the body of “crime” would be useless. At most, through the matrilineal DNA we would know if there is a direct relationship between the mariscales and the current marquis of Cortes.

Once the work is completed, the crypt will not be fully covered again, it will have access to future work, and as the presbytery will remain at the crypt level, the deposit will be exposed. In this regard, the association Irujo Etxea de Estella, the Fundación Orreaga and Nabarralde called in tribute to Pedro II.ari that the crypt should not be underestimated: “As the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Navarre approaches, this is a key moment to recover the historical memory,” said President Irujo Etxea, Koldo Viñuales.