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Establishing a minimum damage procedure for the gut sampling of intact human bodies: the case of the Huldremose Woman

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

D. Brothwell ,
T. Holden ,
D. Liversage ,
B. Gottleib ,
P. Bennike  and
J. Boesen
D. Brothwell
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London. London WC1H 0PY
T. Holden
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London. London WC1H 0PY
D. Liversage
Affiliation:
Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholm Kanal 12, DK-1220 Copenhagen K. Denmark
B. Gottleib
Affiliation:
Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholm Kanal 12, DK-1220 Copenhagen K. Denmark
P. Bennike
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biological Anatomy, Institute of Medical Anthropology, University of Copenhagen. 3 Blegsdamsvej, Copenhagen N.DK-2200, Denmark
J. Boesen
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroradiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Extract

The investigation of the Lindow I1 bog body (Stead et al. 1986), made it necessary to consider aspects of previously discovered human remains of a similar kind. Two of us (DL and DB) found that further studies could profitably be undertaken on the specimens in the National Museum of Copenhagen. As a result of this, a number of detailed specialist reports relating to the Huldremose bog body are being prepared for press. An overriding concern in these studies was the development of techniques that would entail only minimal damage to the body. In this way, it should be possible to satisfy the requirements of museums and excavation units that such investigations would not detract from the value of ancient bodies as permanent records and potential exhibits.

Type
Notes
Information
Antiquity , Volume 64 , Issue 245 , December 1990 , pp. 830 - 835
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 1990

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Footnotes

The bog bodies of northern Europe represent a rare and priceless record of past ritual, custom and many of the more basic aspects of human life. Many previously discovered bodies have been destroyed or reburied while others have rapidly deteriorated due to the lack of adequate conservation technology. This paper reports on recent work designed to study and sample certain internal organs, especially the gut, with minimal damage to the external appearance of the body

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