Book Description
Some of the topics covered include:
How I first came to hear of the Rennes-le-Chateau Mystery and my first and subsequent visits to the village and the surrounding area.
How Sauniere's church clues were solved and how they led to my discoveries.
Full details and images of the 'Sauniere messages' are finally disclosed, including exactly how and where they were discovered and the information they contain.
Full details of the Tomb discovery, the objects inside and how Sauniere's church was used to find it. Including what took place when the tomb was filmed and how the hair sample was taken.
Information and images revealing a second tomb at Pontils.
'Sauniere's Confession' - what part if any did he play in the brutal murder of the Abbé Antoine Gelis, the motive and how it might have been carried out. Including the report of an investigation into the murder by a modern day murder Detective Inspector, Colin Taylor, Metropolitan Police (ret) Also an English translation of some of the French police reports and autopsy translation.
Full reports on all the tests and examinations by experts on all of the discoveries.
Read about my exploits above and below ground as the clues and the information on the 'Sauniere messages' were acted upon.
Mary Magdalene investigated - Saint or Sinner? What role did Mary play in the life of Jesus before and after the crucifixion? Is there any evidence to the legends that Mary Magdalene came to France and how far back into history can this story be traced?
The meetings with the DRAC to report the Tomb, our subsequent visit to the site with them and our discussions about the planned future excavation of the tomb.
Lois Gibson, a respected forensic artist who is recorded in The Guinness Book of World Records as "The World's Most Successful Forensic Artist," agreed to do a face reconstruction sketch from photographs of the Tomb's occupant, you can see the result for yourself in the book. And much more
Back Cover copy
Treasure, tombs, secret codes and hidden clues, a brutal murder, the Knights Templar and 2000 year old relics - it could be the premise for a new archaeological thriller. Except that it is real.
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What begins as a treasure hunt and a bit of fun and adventure, leads an Englishman to the tiny French village of Rennes-le-Chateau, where an ordinary man unlocked a mysterious puzzle set up by a priest 100 years ago.
Abbé Bérenger Sauniere became mysteriously and fabulously rich after finding a hidden parchment when carrying out repairs to the Church of Mary Magdalene.
Subsequent to Sauniere's death in 1917, speculation was rife about the possible source of his sudden wealth. Some have said it was proceeds from the sale of an ancient or a Royal Treasure? Or it might have been hush money paid by the Vatican to keep Sauniere quiet, but if so what did Sauniere find that they were so afraid of?
As many believe, the mysterious priest had embedded clues in his church decoration leading to a treasure or a secret, & the source of his wealth. When Ben Hammott enters the church he soon spots something that everyone else has somehow missed--a key that deciphers some of the embedded clues.
Painstakingly deciphering and following the clues, Ben is led to a discovery of 2000-year-old artefacts, a treasure of gold, and a Knights Templar tomb containing a shrouded body!
The area surrounding Rennes-le-Chateau features prominently in the bloodline legend which follows the premise that Mary Magdalene escaped Jerusalem with child, sailed to France and settled in the region. Centuries old manuscripts also support this legend.
Mitochondrial DNA tests carried out on a hair sample give the body a Middle Eastern profile, rare in Europe with an incidence of only 4% - Are the legends and the tomb linked?
