Coffin from Civil War uncovers mystery

AP ^

[rastus macgill]

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. Story continues below ↓ advertisement 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...

[rastus macgill]

I disinterred one of these from 1857 once.The preservation was amazing he looked less than a week dead in full evening dress with a bouquet of flowers on his chest.We welded it shut on the spot and turned it over to a funeral home for reinterrment in another cemetery. Would have been interesting to perform this degree of examination.

[pabianice]

Records indicate the boy voted for Kerry in Chicago in 2004.

[11Bush]

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.

Yep, no written record from that time, none what so ever. Let the dead rest in peace and not be someones ticket to a fed grant.

[nuconvert]

Anthropologist Kari Bruwelheide, right, and Doug Owsley, head of physical anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History, center, and others, examine the remains of an iron coffin at the museum in Washington.

Very cramped accomodations

[Alas Babylon!]

From the source article: 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.

I doubt bacteria could live so long, but is it possible for viri to survive under such condtions, and infect those working on the remains? From the source, there is a photograph of the scientists working on the remains, and while wearing aprons and latex gloves, they have no other protective apparel.

[rastus macgill]

Okay no more highways no buliding no land development let them rest in peace.Or would you suggest just crushing them with bull dozers and backhoes and using them as fill dirt?

[need_a_screen_name]

"Yep, no written record from that time, none what so ever. Let the dead rest in peace and not be someones ticket to a fed grant."



Second dat! We aren't talking Egyptian mummies here.

[11Bush]

There is a difference between the respectful moving of remains and the 'let's look and see what's in here'.

[need_a_screen_name]

"Okay no more highways no buliding no land development let them rest in peace.Or would you suggest just crushing them with bull dozers and backhoes and using them as fill dirt?"



Jumping a little to the extreme, eh? What would be wrong with simply reinterring the body like you did in your situation? I'm sure this the body wasn't buried in the hope that some future generation would one day dig it up and start carving into it. Respect for the dead, and all of that.

[righttackle44]

"Let the dead rest in peace and not be someones ticket to a fed grant."

Preach it, my friend.

[derllak]

Me three! This is exactly what I was thinking while reading the article. Instead of wasting their time and money poking and prodding at this poor deceased child, maybe they should visit their local library.

[Mudcat]

I doubt bacteria could live so long

Bacterial spores have survived up to 250 million years, in the right conditions. ref: here

[leadpenny]

"Coffin from Civil War uncovers mystery"

" . . . its orange cord snaking around the pre-Civil War artifact, . ."


Is the headline wrong?

[WIladyconservative]

I disinterred one of these from 1857 once

I hope you were an archeaologist or some such thing rather than just diggin' around for fun . . . .??

[Vermont Lt]

I was thinking the same thing. I am sure there was a reason for the disinternment...or there was a lot of beer involved. Yuck.

They dont mention the smell. They never mention the smell.

[jocon307]

"Yep, no written record from that time, none what so ever."

That's what I was thinking. My goodness, this was only 150 years ago, I think a good deal is known about life, death, and disease at that time. I can understand wanting to id the guy, but I'm not sure how they'll manage that.

Maybe they should just re-bury the fellow, as the unknown American of circa 1850.

[tutstar]

ping

[kalee]

Civil War era ping

[Sacajaweau]

You're right. Let them "Rest in Peace".

The records and statistics from that period are endless. People still think we were living in the stone age at the time.

I've been restoring a cemetery from the 1820's. The newspaper death notices indicate the cause of death and in many cases were very descriptive.

[armymarinemom]

Bacterial spores have survived up to 250 million years, in the right conditions

True. If this child died from TB there could be spores.