Human Remains

Ginger

3400 BCE

The naturally preserved body of an adult male was found in a cemetery in Gelebein, Egypt. The body is predicted to be from 3400 BC or even earlier. Having direct contact with the hot dry sand he was buried in caused natural mummification which preserved his toes, fingernails, hair and the rest of his body. He was buried in a shallow grave with bowls, cups and urns.

Otzi the Iceman

3300 BCE

When two German tourists were hiking through the Oetzal Alps on the Italian Austrian border they discovered a body lying face down in a pool of melting glacial ice. It took five days for it to be taken into protective custody. During this time Otzi was touched, stolen from and damaged by tourists and authorities. With the number of people that were allowed to touch his body, fungus started to grow The significance of this discovery is that it is the oldest human body to ever be found intact.

Ice Maiden

500 BCE

Found in Pazyryk Siberia in an elaborate tomb built for someone of importance to society. She was buried with six sacrificed horses and was laid inside a sacred hollow log with a pillow underneath her head and headdress. A part of the Scythian tribes she died of breast cancer a little over the age of 20. She was preserved within the permafrost soil.

Tollund Man

375 BCE

A bog body found in Tollund Fen Denmark. He was discovered by locals digging for peat. He was approximately 30-40 when he died and was placed in a sleeping position in the bog. He was wearing a leather cap and leather belt. As well as a braided rope around his neck which has theorised his death as hanging. From 375-210 BC.

Lindow Man

2 BCE

Discovered by peat cutters, Lindow Man was the bog body found in the Chesire countryside. He is the best well-presevered bog body found in Britain and dates back to 2BC. He was around 25 years old when he died and 1.73m tall. He weighed 64 kg.

Bones at Herculaneum

79

59 people tried to escape by boat during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD in the same event that caused the burial of Pompeii. They were caught in a Tsunami in with the sheer impact of the surge broke bones and killed a few. The rest died at the high temperatures causing hair to ignite and skin and clothing to vapourised instantly killing them. In some cases the heat caused the brain to swell and spilt causing craniums. Today only the bones remain.