| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"stoney" |
| Date: |
04 Aug 2005 06:08:39 PM |
| Object: |
OT: Coffin from Civil War uncovers mystery {pic on site} |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8829310/
Coffin from Civil War uncovers mystery
Scientists hope to identify remains, learn more about the period
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:18 p.m. ET Aug. 4, 2005
WASHINGTON - The rusty iron coffin stubbornly resisted hammer and
chisel as researchers in a warm Smithsonian laboratory sought a
glimpse of an American who lived more than a century and a half ago.
An electric drill, its orange cord snaking around the pre-Civil War
artifact, finally freed the lid.
"This is a person and we want to tell this person's story. She is our
primary obligation," anthropologist Doug Owsley said as the lid was
lifted to reveal a young body wrapped in a brown shroud.
The scientists hope to identify the remains so they can have a
properly marked grave. In the process, they have a chance to learn
about mortuary practices of the period, what disease and trauma people
may have suffered, their diet, past environments, clothing and perhaps
even social customs.
Based on the small size, they had expected the coffin to contain a
female body. On examination, it turned out to be a boy, about age 13.
The coffin was found in April by utility workers digging in
Washington.
Owsley, head of physical anthropology at the National Museum of
Natural History, said the body was well preserved. The young man wore
a shirt and vest, pants and drawers, all hand-sewn, as well as a pair
of socks. Only the socks appeared machine-made, Owsley said Thursday.
"I think ultimately we'll be able to determine who he was and what the
cause of death was," he said. Owsley said the young man's right lung
had adhesions indicating an infection, possibly pneumonia, and
calcifications of the lymph nodes from infections.
The cast iron coffin was shaped a bit like an Egyptian mummy and is of
a type called Fisk style patented in 1848. This particular model was
popular in the early 1850s among the well-to-do, Owsley said.
Because they are sealed, cast iron coffins tend to yield well
persevered bodies. Indeed, the young person looked not unlike an
ancient mummy, even though he had not gone through the Egyptian
embalming procedures.
The Washington iron coffin was one of three opened this week in
Owsley's lab.
Two others are from a Caswell family cemetery near Kinston, N.C. Their
grave markers have been lost and the museum is helping the family
identify the remains — comparing them with family records — so they
can be reburied in newly marked graves.
Water had gotten into those coffins, causing the remains to
deteriorate.
Nonetheless, anthropologist Kari Bruwelheide said researchers had
identified two gallstones in one body that might have contributed to
death. The other showed no signs of sickness or trauma, said
Bruwelheide, a specialist in skeletons.
Both sets of remains were of middle-aged women. Both had dental work,
including gold fillings, and in one, a porcelain crown.
The Washington remains are in much better condition, with skin and
soft tissues intact. Researchers were using long cotton swabs to get
samples they could test for toxins and bacteria.
Human remains from burials are a rich source of information about the
past. Owsley's team has studied many of them over the years, though
only a few have been from cast-iron coffins, which were rare and
expensive.
On hand for the opening, in addition to Owsley's research team, were
scientists from other museum departments and students from East
Carolina State University.
After the Washington coffin was opened the body was carefully removed
for CT scanning. An autopsy will be performed.
© 2005 The Associated Press
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul
of the people. On some great and glorious day the
plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron." --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
.
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