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18th-Century Austrian Mummy Identified and Preserved by Rare Embalming Technique
- Researchers examined the remains of an 18th-century parish priest, believed to be Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, which were discovered in a crypt at the church in St. Thomas am Blasenstein, Austria.
- Sidler died in 1746 at about 37 years old during the War of Austrian Succession, and his body was prepared for transport to his home monastery but never moved due to unknown reasons.
- The team found that the body was unusually preserved through a distinctive embalming technique that involved filling the abdominal cavity via the rectum with materials such as wood fragments, small branches, and cloth, combined with the application of zinc chloride to internally dry and protect the corpse.
- Lead author Andreas Nerlich explained that the remarkable state of preservation resulted from a distinctive embalming technique in which wood chips, along with twigs and fabric, were inserted into the abdomen via the rectum.
- This previously undocumented technique suggests embalming practices in the 18th century may have been more widespread and diverse, and Sidler likely died from chronic tuberculosis rather than poisoning.
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65 Articles
65 Articles
The well-preserved mummy was air-dried by stuffing the rectum with wood shavings, twigs, tissue and zinc chloride. The 280-year-old body belonged to an Austrian priest, and this is the first time archaeologists have encountered this strange – and apparently successful – mummification method.
·Budapest, Hungary
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For centuries, the mummy of the "Luftg'selchten Reverend" remained well preserved in Upper Austria, with the rectum of the dead playing an important role, as researchers now explained.
·Dortmund, Germany
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The mystery of a mummy from an Austrian village has been solved. New research reveals that the mummy is a priest who lived in the 18th century...
·Antwerp, Belgium
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Total News Sources65
Leaning Left12Leaning Right8Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 33%
C 45%
R 22%
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