An Introduction to Preserved Human Remains

Preserved Human Remains Preserved human remains have been found all over the world from various cultures. These remains can be either preserved on purposes for cultural and religious reasons or by accident, through the right geological and climatic conditions.

Sangiran 17, a 1.2 million-year-old skull discovered in 1969 in Sangiran, Indonesia. This adult male skull is the best preserved Homo erectus skull from Java.

Skull of Homo neanderthalensis Amud 1, discovered in 1961 in Amud, Israel. Its age is 45,000 years old.

Lake Mungo Skeletons – Australia 25000BC

Preserved Human Remains Preserved human remains are not only discovered as full bodies such as those mummified by the ancient Egyptians, they are also discovered as: Complete skeletons Individual bones and body parts

The hand of "The Girl of the Uchter Moor“, 650 BC, Germany.

How are Human Remains Preserved? Human remains are not easily preserved. Human tissue naturally deteriorates quickly. The right climatic and / or geological conditions must be present for the preservation of human bodies.

Chinchorro Mummies – Peru 5000BC

Otzi The Iceman – Italy 3300BC

What do we learn from bodies? Human remains provide very useful evidence when trying to reconstruct the lives of people in ancient societies. We can learn physical characteristics of a human population such as age, appearance, diseases. We can also learn about human lifestyle and behaviour from bodies, such as work patterns, religious and burial practices and medical practices.

Seqenenre Tao II - Egypt 1550BC

Tollund Man – Denmark 200BC

Windeby Girl – Denmark 100AD?

Herculaneum Bodies – Italy 79AD

Inca Mummies – Peru 400AD

Qilakitsoq Inuit Mummies – Greenland 1475AD

Review Questions Name 5 famous bodies from this lesson, their age and the region they come from. Why are human remains important sources of evidence about ancient societies? How are human remains preserved?

Research ancient human remains and create a timeline of the most important ancient bodies from around the world, including their location and how they were preserved. Lake Mungo skeletons Koelbjerg Woman Florida Indian Burials Chinchorro mummies Tollund Man Ginger Seqenere Tao II Tutankhamun Ice Maiden Graubelle Man Prince Changshan & Princess Tou Wan Borre Fin Man Lindow Man The Iceman Windeby Girl(Boy) Herculaneum Skeletons Incan Mummies Peru Qilakitsoq Inuit mummies