Latest news with #FranzXaverSidlervonRosenegg
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Determine Identity of Centuries-Old, Well-Preserved Mummy
Researchers have determined the identity of a centuries-old mummy found in Austria, according to a study published in Frontiers in Medicine, and unearthed a previously unknown embalming method in the process. Archaeologists have determined that the body belonged to a church vicar who lived in the community roughly 300 years ago. The mummy showed almost no signs of decay due to the embalming method, which saw the corpse stuffed with wooden chips, branches, twigs, and fabrics before being doused in zinc chloride. It's the first time scientists have encountered such an embalming method. 'This extensive multidisciplinary approach not only confirmed the identity of the mummy, but also the reason for the good preservation of the dead body over a period of around 240 years in the Middle European climate,' the study authors wrote. 'The evidence suggests that the preservation was performed to avoid the spread of infection by miasma. Possible later opening of the coffin or relocation of the human remains would have found a remarkably intact corpse and could easily result in miraculous beliefs by the local population.'Scientists found that the body showed significant decay on the lower half of its body but hardly any of the top half, which they believe is a result of the novel embalming method. 'This type of preservation may have been much more widespread but unrecognized in cases where ongoing postmortal decay processes may have damaged the body wall so that the manipulations would not have been realized as they were,' lead author Andreas Nerlich said. Through their detailed analyses of the body, scientists were ultimately able to positively identify to whom it belonged. 'The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746,' Nerlich explained. 'Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming, achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying.'
India Today
05-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
279-year-old mummy reveals never-before-seen method of preserving human body
For decades, scientists and researchers have been studying how ancient cultures preserved human bodies to the extent that they still have DNA intact. Now, they have hot upon a mysterious process in a small Austrian have analysed a mummy from a small Austrian village, which provided insights into little-known mummification techniques and allowed them to identify the body that has been dead for 279 unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746. "Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming, achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying,' Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat and first author of the Frontiers in Medicine article said. External appearance of the mummy from the ventral (A) and dorsal side (B) showing a completely intact body wall. Credit: Andreas Nerlich. advertisementCT scanning and extensive analysis revealed that the mummy's upper body was fully intact, whereas the lower extremities and head showed considerable post-mortem decay.A variety of foreign materials were discovered in the abdominal and pelvic cavity, the team identified wood chips from fir and spruce, fragments of branches, as well as different fabrics, including linen, hemp, and flax. All these materials were easily available at that time and in that region.'Clearly, the wood chips, twigs, and dry fabric absorbed much of the fluid inside the abdominal cavity,' said noted that this way of embalming is different to better-known methods where the body is opened to prepare it. Here, however, the embalming materials were inserted via the rectum.'This type of preservation may have been much more widespread but unrecognized in cases where ongoing postmortal decay processes may have damaged the body wall so that the manipulations would not have been realized as they were,' Nerlich pointed out.A small glass sphere with holes on both ends – perhaps an application to the fabric of monastic origin was also discovered inside the mummy. The mummy was long rumoured to belong to Sidler, but the origin of these rumours is unknown. It was, however, only the current investigation that provided certainty as to its identity. analyses showed that the mummy died most likely aged between 35 and 45 years old and most probably between 1734 and lack of major signs of stress on the skeleton fits the life of a priest without hard physical activity. There also was evidence of a long-term smoking habit, and lung tuberculosis towards the end of his life.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Shockingly intact mummy found perfectly preserved after bizarre ‘rectal twigging' method scientists have never seen
A NEARLY 300-year-old mummy has been found "unusually well-preserved" after undergoing a bizarre embalming method. With its skin still remarkably intact, the 18th-century corpse was found with wood chips, twigs and fabric packed into his abdomen through his anus. 9 9 9 9 Upon opening the body, researchers found wood from fir and spruce trees, as well as fragments from branches. There was also a number of different fabrics used, including linen, hemp and flax - which were popular at the time. The technique has never been seen before. "The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corpse of a local parish vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746," said study lead author Dr. Andreas Nerlich, a research at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität that specialises in mummy research. "Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming, achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying." The mummy's upper body is well preserved, but the lower extremities and head show significant decay. Researchers believe the combination of materials, and the addition of the drying agent zinc chloride, kept the mummy in good condition for nearly 300 years. "Clearly, the wood chips, twigs, and dry fabric absorbed much of the fluid inside the abdominal cavity," said Nerlich. Better-known methods, like those used by the ancient Egyptians, involve opening the body to prepare it. Shock footage reveals moment a medieval mummy is seized in house raid Here, however, the embalming materials were stuffed through the rectal canal. "This type of preservation may have been much more widespread but unrecognised in cases where ongoing postmortal decay processes may have damaged the body wall so that the manipulations would not have been realized as they were," suggested Nerlich. 9 9 Inside the mummy, researchers also found a single bead, which they believe could have been lost during the preparation of the body. It is not entirely clear who the mummy once was - but there are theories. Located in a church crypt in St. Thomas am Blasenstein, a small village in Austria near the Danube River, the mummy is known locally as the the "air-dried chaplain". It is assumed to be the preserved remains of a parish vicar named Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746. There was a lack of stress signs on the skeleton, according to experts, which fit the life of a priest without hard physical activity. The mummy is also believed to been between 35 and 45 years old when they died, between the years 1734 and 1780 - which match Sidler's life. People have long speculated the cause of the priest's death. An X-ray analysis in 2000 suggested his mummy contained a poison capsule. But new research, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, squash this theory. The team conducted extensive analyses, including CT scanning, focal autopsy, and radiocarbon dating. Instead, they found evidence of long-term smoking and signs of tuberculosis in the lungs. 9 9 9
Business Mayor
02-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
18th-century monk's anus was stuffed with wood chips and fabric to mummify him, researchers discover
While analyzing an 18th-century Austrian mummy, researchers discovered that the man died from tuberculosis and was preserved in a very unusual way: with wood chips, twigs and fabric packed into his abdomen through his anus. The mummified body was located in a church crypt in St. Thomas am Blasenstein, a small village in Austria near the Danube River. Known locally as the 'air-dried chaplain,' the mummy was assumed to have been the preserved remains of a parish vicar named Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746. Over the years, Sidler's body has been associated with various healing miracles. But his cause of death remained a mystery, heightened by an X-ray analysis in 2000 that suggested his mummy contained a poison capsule. In a study published Friday (May 2) in the journal Frontiers in Medicine , researchers conducted a new analysis, using multiple techniques to quash rumors about Sidler's puzzling death. In the process, they discovered a remarkable embalming method missing from historical records. 'Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming, achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying,' study lead author Andreas Nerlich , a researcher at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich who specializes in mummy research, said in a statement . Related: 'Pregnant' ancient Egyptian mummy with 'cancer' actually wasn't pregnant and didn't have cancer, new study finds Following a macroscopic observation of the body, which revealed male external genitalia, the research team performed a CT scan of the mummy to identify the organs and other material inside the body. They also took samples of skin, tissue and dental enamel for chemical analyses, to establish when the man died, what he ate and whether he had been poisoned. Read More Could this home test kit replace 'uncomfortable' smear tests? ...Tech & Science Daily podcast - Yahoo New Zealand News Get the world's most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. The CT scan revealed a minor-but-chronic infection in the man's nasal sinuses, and several of his front teeth were worn in a semicircular pattern, both of which suggested long-term pipe smoking. Additionally, the researchers discovered calcifications and cysts in his lungs, both of which are common in people with chronic tuberculosis . These lung issues may have resulted in acute pulmonary hemorrhage, the researchers noted in the study. This was his likely cause of death, the research team said, since the toxicology analysis did not reveal any evidence of poisoning. But the afterlife of the mummy and the way it was created have baffled the researchers. Fabric found inside the mummified body of Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, including a piece of cotton with a floral pattern (left) and a fragment of silk fabric (right). (Image credit: Andreas Nerlich) After making a small incision in the chest wall, the team closely examined the foreign material found inside the body of the mummy. This material included mud, wood chips from spruce and fir trees, and branches from unidentified tree species. Intermingled in this mixture were swatches of hemp, flax and silk fabric, along with wooden buttons that presumably adorned the fabric. The round, hollow object that researchers previously believed was a poison capsule was extracted and found to be a glass bead from a rosary. Historically, mummies have often been created by opening the body's abdominal wall, removing the organs, and inserting packing material. But in this case, the mummy's abdomen was intact, leading the researchers to conclude that his pelvis was packed via his anus, which they found to be somewhat enlarged. Based on the radiocarbon date from the mummy's skin, the age at death determined from the skeleton, and historical records, the researchers concluded that the mummy could indeed be positively identified as Franz Xaver Sidler, who died in St. Thomas in 1746 at only 37 years old. Because most people at that time were not mummified, however, it is still unclear why Sidler merited this treatment. 'We have some written evidence that cadavers were 'prepared' for transport or elongated laying-out of the dead,' Nerlich said. 'Possibly, the vicar was planned for transportation to his home abbey, which might have failed for unknown reasons.' Mummy quiz: Can you unwrap these ancient Egyptian mysteries?
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Unravelling the mystery of the Mummy of the 'Air-Dried Chaplain': Vicar who died in 1746 was exceptionally well preserved thanks to unusual embalming technique
After spending nearly 300 years buried in a coffin, most people would be reduced to a pile of bones. But not Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, the Austrian 'Air-Dried Chaplain' who is exceptionally well-preserved. The long-dead vicar, who passed away in 1746, has an unusual embalming method to thank for his extraordinary durability. But it's not one for the squeamish. 'The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746,' said Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and first author of the study. While many cultures around the world have embalmed their dead for centuries, this was the first time scientists had seen anything like this. 'Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming,' Dr Nerlich said. 'It was achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying.' As seen from these pictures, the mummy was extremely well preserved with a 'completely intact body wall' The team conducted extensive analyses including CT scanning, focal autopsy, and radiocarbon dating. The mummy's upper body was fully intact, whereas the lower extremities and head showed considerable post-mortem decay. During their investigation, the researchers found a variety of foreign material packed in the abdominal and pelvic cavity. Upon opening the body, the team identified wood chips from fir and spruce, fragments of branches, as well as different fabrics, including linen, hemp, and flax. All these materials were easily available at that time and in that region. The researchers believe it is this mixture of materials that kept the mummy in such good condition. 'Clearly, the wood chips, twigs, and dry fabric absorbed much of the fluid inside the abdominal cavity,' Dr Nerlich said. Next to these absorbents, a toxicological analysis showed traces of zinc chloride, which has a strong drying effect. While most embalming methods involve opening the body to prepare it, this required inserting the embalming materials through the rectum. Picture A shows a mixture of fragmented white fabric, small wood chips and plant material that was removed from the mummy's abdomen. Picture B shows a round foreign sphere detected in the left pelvis 'This type of preservation may have been much more widespread but unrecognized in cases where ongoing postmortal decay processes may have damaged the body wall so that the manipulations would not have been realized as they were,' Dr Nerlich explained. Inside the mummy, the researchers also found a small glass sphere with holes on both ends – perhaps an application to fabric of monastic origin. Since only a single bead was found, it might have been lost during the preparation of the body. The team's analysis, which included radiocarbon dating, also revealed that the mummy ate a high-quality diet based on central European grains, animal products and possibly fish. Towards the end of his life he may have experienced food shortages, likely due to the War of Austrian Succession. The lack of major sign of stress on the skeleton fits the life of a priest without hard physical activity. There also was evidence of a long-term smoking habit, and lung tuberculosis towards the end of his life. Dr Nerlich said it's possible the mummy had been prepared for transportation to his home abbey, which might have failed for unknown reasons. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. WHAT ARE THE OLDEST TATTOOS IN THE WORLD? Since his discovery on 19 December 1991 by German hikers, Ötzi has provided a window into early human history. His mummified remains were uncovered in melting glacier in the mountainous border between Austria and Italy. Analysis of the body has told us that he was alive during the Copper Age and died a grisly death. Ötzi, who was 46 at the time of his death, had brown eyes, relatives in Sardinia, and was lactose intolerant. Experts discovered a total of 61 tattoos on Ötzi's body using different wavelengths of light to pick them out on the mummy's darkened skin. And in December 2015 they were confirmed to be the world's oldest - beating markings on an unidentified South American Chinchorro mummy. Experts had thought the South American mummy with a moustache-like tattoo on its face died in around 4,000BC, before realising it's younger than Ötzi, who was killed in around 3250 BC. While researchers can't be sure why Ötzi had the tattoos, many think that they served as a form of acupuncture. 'We know that they were real tattoos,' Albert Zink, head of the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy told LiveScience. The ancient tattoo artist who applied them 'made the incisions into the skin, and then they put in charcoal mixed with some herbs.' The tattoos, mostly found on Ötzi's lower back and legs, between the knee and food, may have been a way to relieve the effects of chronic pain or injuries. Ötzi was thought to have done a lot of walking in the Alps, which could have resulted in joint pain in his knees and ankles. The 61st tattoo, found on the ribcage, has puzzled researchers who suggest Ötzi may also suffered from chest pain. If the tattoos were not for therapeutic benefit, the researchers say they could have had symbolic or religious significance. Alternatively, they may simply be geometric shapes with no hidden meaning. In March, 2018, figurative tattoos were been discovered on 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummies at the British Museum. Experts said that these were the world's earliest figurative tattoos. The tattoos are of a wild bull and a Barbary sheep on the upper-arm of a male mummy, and S-shaped motifs on the upper-arm and shoulder of a female. The find dates tattoos containing imagery rather than geometric patterns to 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.
