Posted on 04/17/2017 6:48:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Intriguing new details have emerged about a medieval mummy known for her 'Adidas' boots - which she wore more than a millennia ago.
The body of the woman was discovered a year ago this week in the Altai mountains region of Mongolia.
And her body and possessions remained so remarkably preserved that experts are still uncovering some of the secrets they keep.
...
And her trademark felt boots - boasting red and black stripes - have been carefully cleaned, with new pictures revealed today by The Siberian Times.
Experts from the Centre of Cultural Heritage of Mongolia now believe the woman died up to 1,100 years ago after suffering a serious head wound.
Initial examinations found that 'it was quite possible that the traces of a blow to the mummy's facial bones were the cause of her death'.
They are still seeking to verify the exact age of the burial, but they estimate it took place in the tenth century - more recently than originally thought.
...
'Those high-quality stitches, the bright red and black stripes, the length - I would buy them now in no time.'
The high altitude and cold climate helped to preserve both the woman's body and her belongings.
And a coating of Shilajit - a thick, sticky tar-like substance with a colour ranging from white to dark brown - that covered her body aided this process.
...
The woman was buried alongside a number of her possessions - including a handbag and four changes of clothes.
A comb and a mirror from her beauty kit were also found, along with a knife.
Her horse and a saddle with metal stirrups in such good condition that it could be used today were buried as well.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
(from a Smithsonian report .. )
"But in the early 1200s, Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes and began invading neighbors in all directions. The Mongol Empire continued to grow after his death, led by the mighty leader’s sons and grandsons, who pushed their armies into regions as far as eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Korea."
To think she is now remembered. People, a thousand years later, are in awe of her beautiful needle skills. You and I would be lucky to be a vague memory 20 years after our demise.
It’s interesting to think of the possessions buried with her. We have so much *stuff* that we don’t really value it. But to a woman like this, a good comb, a sturdy, warm pair of boots, some needles and thread, would mean so much!
If she really did make her own boots and the little pouch, I can understand why they were buried with her. Just from my experience with sewing, crafts, etc., I know how greatly we value anything we make with our own hands - or made by the hands of others - especially if it’s a very utilitarian thing, very WELL-made.
I realize that some people think that graves like this should not be disturbed; but I think it’s a very tender, thought-provoking thing that we can discover her and think about her, and her life - it teaches us. This is a ‘shell’ - She hasn’t been there in hundreds of years, and wherever she is now, I don’t think she minds at all ;-)
(I wouldn’t want them to kill my horse, though :-(
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.