An Introduction to Preserved Human Remains

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An Introduction to Preserved Human Remains
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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.

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• 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.

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

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Lake Mungo Skeletons Australia 25000BC
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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

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

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Chinchorro Mummies Peru 5000BC
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Otzi The Iceman Italy 3300BC
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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.

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Seqenenre Tao II - Egypt 1550BC
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Tollund Man Denmark 200BC
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Windeby Girl Denmark 100AD?
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Herculaneum Bodies Italy 79AD
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Inca Mummies Peru 400AD
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Qilakitsoq Inuit Mummies Greenland 1475AD
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Review Questions

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

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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 ManThe Iceman
• Windeby Girl(Boy)
• Herculaneum Skeletons
• Incan Mummies Peru Qilakitsoq Inuit mummies