Latest news with #Sidler
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mummy mystery solved: ‘air-dried' priest was embalmed via rectum
The mystery of a mummy from an Austrian village has been solved, according to researchers who say it was embalmed in an unexpected way – via the rectum. Intrigue had long swirled around the mummified body stored in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein. The remains were rumoured to be the naturally preserved corpse of an aristocratic vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746 at the aged of 37, gaining the mummy the moniker of the 'air-dried chaplain'. Now experts say they have discovered the body was embalmed with the abdominal and pelvic cavities packed with wood chips, fragmented twigs, fabrics such as hemp and silk, and zinc chloride – materials that would have absorbed fluids inside the body. Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany and first author of the study, said the discovery was a surprise as there was no external evidence for such a process. 'The body wall was not opened – therefore the only entrance possible was the rectum,' he said, noting this was very different from previously known methods of embalming, including those from ancient Egypt. Writing in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, Nerlich and colleagues reported how the mummy had previously been externally examined by experts and studied via X-rays among other investigations. While the X-rays did not detect the internal stuffing, they did reveal a round structure inside the mummy's left lower bowel – leading to rumours that the individual had died after swallowing a poisonous capsule. During a recent renovation of the crypt, Nerlich and colleagues gained approval to carry out a partial autopsy, CT scans and other analyses. The researchers discovered the mummy – which has a well-preserved upper body, but decay to the face, lower legs and feet – is that of a man, most likely between 35 and 45 years of age, with radiocarbon dating of a skin sample suggesting he died between 1734 and 1780. The team note these insights fit with what is know about Sidler, adding that an analysis of bone, tooth and skin samples revealed the man's diet was consistent with that of a local parish vicar in the region, being rich in animal products and central European grain varieties. As expected for a man of the cloth who had an easy life, the skeleton showed no signs of stress – while the corpse showed evidence of long-term pipe-smoking and bunions. 'Both wearing pointy shoes and smoking [a] pipe are very typical for a priest at that time,' said Nerlich. As for the 'poisonous capsule', the researchers discovered the object was a single glass bead – similar to those used for rosaries – that may have entered the body as a decoration on the fabric used for stuffing. Sidler's cause of death, the team added, was most likely severe bleeding into the lungs as a result of tuberculosis, with the body showing signs of the disease. Yet why Sidler was embalmed remains unclear. While the team said the evidence suggests it was carried out to avoid the spread of infection by miasma – or 'bad air' – Nerlich said another potential explanation was that Sidler was preserved for transport to his home monastery of Waldhausen. And he may not have been the only one to receive such treatment. 'This is the first case with this type of documented embalming,' Nerlich said. 'So we have no idea how often or where this has been performed, although we assume that this type of 'short-term preservation' was used much more often than we might expect from this single case.'
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?
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Mummy mystery solved: 'Air-dried' priest was embalmed via rectum
The mystery of a mummy from an Austrian village has been solved, according to researchers who say it was embalmed in an unexpected way – via the rectum. Intrigue had long swirled around the mummified body stored in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein. The remains were rumoured to be the naturally preserved corpse of an aristocratic vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746 at the aged of 37, gaining the mummy the moniker of the 'air-dried chaplain'. Now experts say they have discovered the body was embalmed with the abdominal and pelvic cavities packed with wood chips, fragmented twigs, fabrics such as hemp and silk, and zinc chloride – materials that would have absorbed fluids inside the body. Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany and first author of the study, said the discovery was a surprise as there was no external evidence for such a process. 'The body wall was not opened – therefore the only entrance possible was the rectum,' he said, noting this was very different from previously known methods of embalming, including those from ancient Egypt. Writing in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, Nerlich and colleagues reported how the mummy had previously been externally examined by experts and studied via X-rays among other investigations. While the X-rays did not detect the internal stuffing, they did reveal a round structure inside the mummy's left lower bowel – leading to rumours that the individual had died after swallowing a poisonous capsule. During a recent renovation of the crypt, Nerlich and colleagues gained approval to carry out a partial autopsy, CT scans and other analyses. The researchers discovered the mummy – which has a well-preserved upper body, but decay to the face, lower legs and feet – is that of a man, most likely between 35 and 45 years of age, with radiocarbon dating of a skin sample suggesting he died between 1734 and 1780. The team note these insights fit with what is know about Sidler, adding that an analysis of bone, tooth and skin samples revealed the man's diet was consistent with that of a local parish vicar in the region, being rich in animal products and central European grain varieties. As expected for a man of the cloth who had an easy life, the skeleton showed no signs of stress – while the corpse showed evidence of long-term pipe-smoking and bunions. 'Both wearing pointy shoes and smoking [a] pipe are very typical for a priest at that time,' said Nerlich. As for the 'poisonous capsule', the researchers discovered the object was a single glass bead – similar to those used for rosaries – that may have entered the body as a decoration on the fabric used for stuffing. Sidler's cause of death, the team added, was most likely severe bleeding into the lungs as a result of tuberculosis, with the body showing signs of the disease. Yet why Sidler was embalmed remains unclear. While the team said the evidence suggests it was carried out to avoid the spread of infection by miasma – or 'bad air' – Nerlich said another potential explanation was that Sidler was preserved for transport to his home monastery of Waldhausen. And he may not have been the only one to receive such treatment. 'This is the first case with this type of documented embalming,' Nerlich said. 'So we have no idea how often or where this has been performed, although we assume that this type of 'short-term preservation' was used much more often than we might expect from this single case.' The Guardian Read More Dagger or male member? Historians dispute Bayeux tapestry penis tally in lengthy debate
The Guardian
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Mummy mystery solved: ‘air-dried' priest was embalmed via rectum
The mystery of a mummy from an Austrian village has been solved, according to researchers who say it was embalmed in an unexpected way – via the rectum. Intrigue had long swirled around the mummified body stored in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein. The remains were rumoured to be the naturally preserved corpse of an aristocratic vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746 at the aged of 37, gaining the mummy the moniker of the 'air-dried chaplain'. Now experts say they have discovered the body was embalmed with the abdominal and pelvic cavities packed with wood chips, fragmented twigs, fabrics such as hemp and silk, and zinc chloride – materials that would have absorbed fluids inside the body. Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany and first author of the study, said the discovery was a surprise as there was no external evidence for such a process. 'The body wall was not opened – therefore the only entrance possible was the rectum,' he said, noting this was very different from previously known methods of embalming, including those from ancient Egypt. Writing in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, Nerlich and colleagues reported how the mummy had previously been externally examined by experts and studied via X-rays among other investigations. While the X-rays did not detect the internal stuffing, they did reveal a round structure inside the mummy's left lower bowel – leading to rumours that the individual had died after swallowing a poisonous capsule. During a recent renovation of the crypt, Nerlich and colleagues gained approval to carry out a partial autopsy, CT scans and other analyses. The researchers discovered the mummy – which has a well-preserved upper body, but decay to the face, lower legs and feet – is that of a man, most likely between 35 and 45 years of age, with radiocarbon dating of a skin sample suggesting he died between 1734 and 1780. The team note these insights fit with what is know about Sidler, adding that an analysis of bone, tooth and skin samples revealed the man's diet was consistent with that of a local parish vicar in the region, being rich in animal products and central European grain varieties. As expected for a man of the cloth who had an easy life, the skeleton showed no signs of stress – while the corpse showed evidence of long-term pipe-smoking and bunions. 'Both wearing pointy shoes and smoking [a] pipe are very typical for a priest at that time,' said Nerlich. As for the 'poisonous capsule', the researchers discovered the object was a single glass bead – similar to those used for rosaries – that may have entered the body as a decoration on the fabric used for stuffing. Sidler's cause of death, the team added, was most likely severe bleeding into the lungs as a result of tuberculosis, with the body showing signs of the disease. Yet why Sidler was embalmed remains unclear. While the team said the evidence suggests it was carried out to avoid the spread of infection by miasma – or 'bad air' – Nerlich said another potential explanation was that Sidler was preserved for transport to his home monastery of Waldhausen. And he may not have been the only one to receive such treatment. 'This is the first case with this type of documented embalming,' Nerlich said. 'So we have no idea how often or where this has been performed, although we assume that this type of 'short-term preservation' was used much more often than we might expect from this single case.'
