Centuries-old Austrian mummy found to be exceptionally well preserved thanks to unusual embalming method

Frontiers | Science News ^ | May 01, 2025 | Deborah Pirchner, Editor

[SunkenCiv]

..."The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar, Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg, who died in 1746," said Dr Andreas Nerlich, a pathologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and first author of the Frontiers in Medicine article. "Our investigation uncovered that the excellent preservation status came from an unusual type of embalming, achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying."

The team conducted extensive analyses, including CT scanning, focal autopsy, and radiocarbon dating. The mummy's upper body was fully intact, whereas lower extremities and head showed considerable post-mortem decay.

During their investigation, the researchers found a variety of foreign material packed in the abdominal and pelvic cavity. Upon opening the body, the team identified wood chips from fir and spruce, fragments of branches, as well as different fabrics, including linen, hemp, and flax. All these materials were easily available at that time and in that region.

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: austria; europe; genealogy; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; middleages

[SunkenCiv]

The mummy of the 'air-dried chaplain' in his coffin in the church crypt of St. Thomas am Blasenstein, Austria.

Credit: Andreas Nerlich

[SunkenCiv]

[stateofit]

You’d look like that too when stuffed with wood chips and sticks.

[real saxophonist]

I’m glad we didn’t have that procedure when I worked in Funeral Service.

[one guy in new jersey]

what happened to rest in peace

[ComputerGuy]

Overstaying One’s Welcome on exhibit.

[fidelis]

My face when my abdomen has been stuffed through my rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric:

[fidelis]

"The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar.

Did Obama write this?

[larrytown]

Usually you have to pay more for that kind of action...

[Bigg Red]

FTA: The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar....

~~~~~

corps? What? Did he put a combat unit in the crypt?

[alexander_busek]

"The unusually well-preserved mummy in the church crypt of St Thomas am Blasenstein is the corps of a local parish vicar [...]

Or maybe General Douglas MacArthur?

"And the corps, and the corps, and the corps... I bid you farewell."

(Last lines of the address he gave at West Point, upon receiving the Nathaniel Thayer Award.)

Regards,

[Karoo]

...and stuffed up your rectum at that!

[Billthedrill]

...achieved by stuffing the abdomen through the rectal canal with wood chips, twigs and fabric, and the addition of zinc chloride for internal drying.

That's a pretty good weekend in San Francisco.

[Weirdad]

That is not preservative, surely, it is the cause of death!
And yes, I will try not to call you Shirley.

[Colorado Doug]

That’s a heck of a way to treat a vicar.