Abstract
Our previous studies on the ultramicroscopic structure of mummy hair from Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) tombs sealed with a lime-soil mixture barrier (LSMB) have provided initial, basic information on their preservation status. Numerous additional cases of various conditions are required in order to provide data sufficient for establishing Korean mummy preservation patterns on a firm basis, however, and so we performed electron microscopic studies on hair taken from a full-term, intrauterine baby mummy found in Paju, Korea. The baby mummy was found within the uterus of a 16th-century mummified woman aged 20-30 years old. Since the labour and delivery stage for this case was 2, and the uterus was found to be ruptured, the cause of death of both the mother and the baby was likely to have been hypovolemic shock occurring during labour. In scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies, we found that the surface of the hair of the baby mummy was coated with crystalline substances, mainly on the side facing the vaginal orifice. We also observed well-preserved cuticle, cortex and medullar layers, completely preserved cuticle-layer scales, as well as macrofibrils and melanin granules evenly spread within the cuticle and cortex layers. Because studies on infant or subadult mummies are very few, and since they have focused mainly on the palaeopathological aspects of those mummies, the preservation pattern of the hair of a full-term baby mummy could contribute significantly to our knowledge of mummies from around the world.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 624-631 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Osteoarchaeology |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 Dec 1 |
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Keywords
- Electron microscope
- Full-term baby
- Hair
- Korea
- Medieval mummy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
Cite this
Ultramicroscopic investigation of the preservation status of hair collected from a full-term, intrauterine baby mummy of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea. / Chang, B. S.; Uhm, Chang Sub; Park, C. H.; Kim, Han Kyeom; Jung, H. S.; Ham, J. H.; Lee, G. Y.; Kim, D. H.; Lee, K. J.; Bang, I. S.; Oh, C. S.; Shin, D. H.
In: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Vol. 18, No. 6, 01.12.2008, p. 624-631.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultramicroscopic investigation of the preservation status of hair collected from a full-term, intrauterine baby mummy of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea
AU - Chang, B. S.
AU - Uhm, Chang Sub
AU - Park, C. H.
AU - Kim, Han Kyeom
AU - Jung, H. S.
AU - Ham, J. H.
AU - Lee, G. Y.
AU - Kim, D. H.
AU - Lee, K. J.
AU - Bang, I. S.
AU - Oh, C. S.
AU - Shin, D. H.
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - Our previous studies on the ultramicroscopic structure of mummy hair from Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) tombs sealed with a lime-soil mixture barrier (LSMB) have provided initial, basic information on their preservation status. Numerous additional cases of various conditions are required in order to provide data sufficient for establishing Korean mummy preservation patterns on a firm basis, however, and so we performed electron microscopic studies on hair taken from a full-term, intrauterine baby mummy found in Paju, Korea. The baby mummy was found within the uterus of a 16th-century mummified woman aged 20-30 years old. Since the labour and delivery stage for this case was 2, and the uterus was found to be ruptured, the cause of death of both the mother and the baby was likely to have been hypovolemic shock occurring during labour. In scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies, we found that the surface of the hair of the baby mummy was coated with crystalline substances, mainly on the side facing the vaginal orifice. We also observed well-preserved cuticle, cortex and medullar layers, completely preserved cuticle-layer scales, as well as macrofibrils and melanin granules evenly spread within the cuticle and cortex layers. Because studies on infant or subadult mummies are very few, and since they have focused mainly on the palaeopathological aspects of those mummies, the preservation pattern of the hair of a full-term baby mummy could contribute significantly to our knowledge of mummies from around the world.
AB - Our previous studies on the ultramicroscopic structure of mummy hair from Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) tombs sealed with a lime-soil mixture barrier (LSMB) have provided initial, basic information on their preservation status. Numerous additional cases of various conditions are required in order to provide data sufficient for establishing Korean mummy preservation patterns on a firm basis, however, and so we performed electron microscopic studies on hair taken from a full-term, intrauterine baby mummy found in Paju, Korea. The baby mummy was found within the uterus of a 16th-century mummified woman aged 20-30 years old. Since the labour and delivery stage for this case was 2, and the uterus was found to be ruptured, the cause of death of both the mother and the baby was likely to have been hypovolemic shock occurring during labour. In scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies, we found that the surface of the hair of the baby mummy was coated with crystalline substances, mainly on the side facing the vaginal orifice. We also observed well-preserved cuticle, cortex and medullar layers, completely preserved cuticle-layer scales, as well as macrofibrils and melanin granules evenly spread within the cuticle and cortex layers. Because studies on infant or subadult mummies are very few, and since they have focused mainly on the palaeopathological aspects of those mummies, the preservation pattern of the hair of a full-term baby mummy could contribute significantly to our knowledge of mummies from around the world.
KW - Electron microscope
KW - Full-term baby
KW - Hair
KW - Korea
KW - Medieval mummy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65349131388&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=65349131388&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/oa.963
DO - 10.1002/oa.963
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 624
EP - 631
JO - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
JF - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
SN - 1047-482X
IS - 6
ER -