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Ancient storage methods work!
Posted 17 June 2010It has been confirmed the remains found in 2008, in a German cathedral were in fact those of Queen Eadgyth. Queen Eadgyth was married to the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I and died in 946 aged 36. The Granddaughter of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, remains are quoted as being the oldest surviving remains of an English Royal burial by a spokesperson from Bristol University.
Since the remains were uncovered in 2008, extensive scientific testing has been carried out to determine their exact origin and status. Carbon dating was initially tried, as was the attempted extraction of DNA but both were proven to be inaccurate; a more detailed approach was therefore necessary. Bristol University’s Department of Archaeology, in association with the Institute of Anthropology at Mainz University studied the oxygen and strontium isotopes within the teeth of what was left of the upper jaw of the Saxon Princess.
From this it was deduced that she lived in England for the first 8-9 years of her life then moved to Magedeburg, Saxony. It was also discovered she ate a diet high in protein, namely fish, as well as evidence she was a frequent horse rider; further confirmation of her noble status. Once married, she bore 2 children by Otto I and their direct descendents ruled Germany until 1254; also forming many of the royal families of Europe that followed.
The remains were found in a lead box, contained within a tomb which was originally thought to be empty: surprising what can be found in “storage?” On the lead box was an inscription “EDIT REGINE CINCERES HIC SARCOPHAGVS HABET...” (Translated as “The Remains of Queen Eadgyth are in this sarcophagus...”) as well as accurately recording the date as 1510. She was originally buried in the monastery of St Maurice but her remains were moved 3 times before being laid to rest in the cathedral where she was discovered 2 years ago. The nature of the date associated with the cathedral and the knowledge of medieval bones having a history of being moved several times before being officially laid to rest sparked the initial challenge of accurately identifying them.
The remains (as you would expect for being over 1000 years old) are not in the best of states which has been compounded by the fact they were stored in a tomb. What has preserved the remains, along with the rare and expensive silks used to wrap them, was in fact the lead “coffin.” This form of storage has ensured the remains were intact enough to carry out these tests (albeit, microscopic, laser tests) and begs the question: ‘what, in today’s society, will be preserved enough in 1000 years time to help those of the future discover what life was like in the year 2010?’...........technology aside of course!
0 Comments | Posted By Alligator in General Storage
