preservation of human remains Flashcards

1
Q

What are ancient human remains?

A

any human body preserved from ancient times

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2
Q

why exist?

A

purposely preserved within their time period, eg pharaohs for afterlife
chance- happen to die in eviro which slowed process of decomposition, eg otzi (freeze dried)
placed in these conditions by person/ppl without knowing eg. bog, sand

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3
Q

How are they preserved?

A

special weather and environmental conditions (undisturbed)

Bacteria needs moisture/specific temp/oxygen to survive

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4
Q

What are the 4 conditions of preservations?

A

Bog
extreme dryness
freezing/extreme cold
volcanic ash

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5
Q

How are people placed in bogs?

A

accidental death, burial, murder and ritual sacrifice

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6
Q

How do bogs work?

A

alot of moisture, but no oxygen from chemical process involved. Airless enviro slows down decay.
has acidic water = microorganisms cant survive to break down bodies

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7
Q

Where are bog bodies mostly found?

A

in europe and britain, Denmark e.g. Tollund man

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8
Q

2 reasons why bodies can be preserved in peat bog?

A
  • layer of peat underneath thin layer of water remains undisturbed from outside changes in enviro, The chemical content of bog vital for preservation.
  • sphagnan found in bogs. A substance found in cell walls of moss that prevents destructive bacteria operating. Contributes to tanning of skin and to leather.
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9
Q

what can bog bodies look like?

A
  • skeletons without soft tissue

- no bone but have soft tissue (from the weight of bog) and tanned skin

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10
Q

Extreme dryness? Where is mostly found?

A

no moisture to feed bacteria.
bodies are desiccated (dried out naturally)
seen in egypt and parts of chile

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11
Q

How come dryness preserves bodies?

A

high temp-> moisture evaporate and bacteria cant survive

low humidity

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12
Q

Freezing/extreme coldness?

A

slows down decay by freezing the material remains

e.g. otzi (ice man)

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13
Q

Volcanic ash?

A

ash, mud, gas settle to rock like substance preserving bodies

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14
Q

MOst famous volcanic preservation?

A

Remain in Pompeii, 79AD volcanic eruption. Turned into human fossils

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15
Q

Depending on temp, what happens to bodies preserved by volcanic ash?

A

whole body/skeleton/shape preserved

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16
Q

Where has these human remains been found?

A

many part of world

high concentration in northern europe in bog conditions.

17
Q

How are peat bogs formed?

A
  1. water collects in hollow
  2. plants grow on surface of water
  3. peat begins to fill hollow (decomposed organic material from plants)
  4. entire hollow fills with peat. surface very spongy
18
Q

Many bog bodies have been thought to be recent murders because?

A

they look very fresh and haven’t decayed

also some were found with ropes around their neck

19
Q

What do scientists want to find out by looking at these bog bodies?

A

how they lived
how they died
why end in such a horrific way

20
Q

why do bog bodies have to be covered in peat when moved to museum?

A

to stop from decomposing

keep body moist and in contact with the chemicals that preserved it for thousand of yrs.