Virtual and macroscopical studies of mummies--differences or complementarity? Report of a natural frozen Siberian mummy.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_031C144CEBB2
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Title
Virtual and macroscopical studies of mummies--differences or complementarity? Report of a natural frozen Siberian mummy.
Journal
Forensic Science International
Author(s)
Dedouit F., Géraut A., Baranov V., Ludes B., Rougé D., Telmon N., Crubézy E.
ISSN
1872-6283 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0379-0738
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2010
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
200
Number
1-3
Pages
e7-13
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Case Reports ; Historical Article ; Journal ArticlePublication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Since 2004, a multidisciplinary Franco-Russian expedition discovered in the Sakha Republic (Yakutiya) more than 60 tombs preserved by the permafrost. In July 2006, an exceptionally well-preserved mummy was unearthed. The coffin, burial furniture and clothes suggested a shaman's tomb. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) was performed before autopsy with forensic and anthropological aims. Forensic study aimed to detect any lesions and determine the manner of death. Anthropological study aimed to determine the mummy's gender, age at death, morphological affinity, stature and body mass. She was female and virginity status was assessed. The radiological and forensic conclusions were compared. Imaging confirmed most autopsy findings, suggesting that death followed disseminated infection. MSCT could not formally exclude a traumatic death because close examination of the skin was difficult, but was superior to conventional autopsy in diagnosis of infectious lesions of the left sacroiliac joint and one pelvic lesion. Autopsy detected a post-infectious spinal lesion, misinterpreted on MSCT as a Schmorl's node. However, most conclusions of virtual and conventional anthropological studies agreed. Age at death was estimated around 19 years old. The morphology of the mummy was mongoloid. MSCT identified the craniometric characteristics as similar to those of the Buryat population. The deceased's stature was 146 cm and estimated body mass was 49 kg. MSCT demonstrated its great potential and complementarity with conventional autopsy and anthropological techniques in the study of this natural female mummy buried in 1728.
Keywords
Age Determination by Skeleton, Age Determination by Teeth, Autopsy/methods, Body Height, Bone and Bones/pathology, Female, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Dentistry, History, 18th Century, Humans, Mummies, Paleopathology, Russia, Sex Determination by Skeleton, Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods, Young Adult
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
12/01/2016 11:16
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:25
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