Introduction

Thanks to recent discoveries of mummies dating back to the Middle Ages, unique material has been collected for the study of Korean society at that time. Such finds are known from burials dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). According to publications, mummies were found in Gwangju (1968), Jeongwon (1977), Jeongyang (1982), Ulsan (1986), Paju (1995), Andon (1998), Okcheon (2000), Yangju (2001), Paju (2002), Puan (2004) and Daejeon (2004) (Fig. 1, A). Many medieval mummies have been found, but most of them have not been studied, because the descendants of the deceased did not want the mummified bodies of their ancestors to become the object of scientific analysis. Such mummies were reburied or cremated by their descendants.

The need for a scientific study of medieval mummies has not yet received public recognition, but several mummified bodies were passed on by descendants for comprehensive study to scientists-archaeologists, specialists in the field of medicine and researchers of medieval costume. One of these mummies, found on November 15, 2001 in Yangju, was discovered by chance by the descendants of the deceased during reburial and carefully examined by representatives of various specialties. For the first time, scientists were able to study the physical features of mummified remains. Their research is still ongoing, but it is already possible to discuss some of the data.

All studies of the mummy were conducted by the Seok Jus-seon Memorial Museum and the East Asian Paleoanthropological Research Center of Tangguk University. The authors are Kim Myeongju, Pok Gide, Kang Inuk and Jung Yoon-hee (placement of mummies found), Park Sung-sil (clothing research), Choi Yeon-hee and Lee In-seong (age determination and X-ray examination), Shin Gyeong-jin (DNA analysis), Han Girre (cause of death determination), Yoon Min-young (absolute radiocarbon dating determination). dates), Han Seongho (visual examination of the body), Jang Byung-soo (microscopic examination) and Shin Donghoon ( histological examination) - tried their best to solve the mystery of the medieval mummy of a child. They express their gratitude to Academician V. I. Molodin for valuable advice in connection with the study of medieval Korean mummies.

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Figure 1. Map-diagram of places where medieval mummies were found in recent years (A); the usual mummy burial structure (B). The mummy (marked with an asterisk) is located in a double wooden coffin (1 - internal, 2 - external), surrounded by a layer of lime and soil mixture (shown by the red arrow). Photo taken at the excavation of a medieval tomb in Ion in 2005; a child mummy discovered in Yangju (C); wooden coffin boards in excellent condition (D).

2. Clothes on the mummy of a child, removed in layers.

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This article describes a find from Yangju that provides insight into mummies from medieval graves in Korea. Biologists and doctors, after examining the remains, came to the conclusion that the mummy, as well as the medieval burial in which it was located, are a kind of message from the past. Korean mummies are unique; they contain invaluable information about the life of medieval Korean society, especially since it is possible to fully identify the identity of the buried with the help of historical or ancestral documents.

Description

Mummified remains and burial equipment

All the mummies found in Korea were in a double wooden coffin, under a layer of soil mixed with lime (Fig. In the same coffin made of wooden blocks, the mummy described was found (Fig. 1, C). The wooden blocks were preserved in excellent condition. The calcareous-soil layer remained intact until the burial was opened (Fig. 1, D). Under the lid of the inner coffin was a medieval garment. Under the layers of clothing lay the mummy of a child (Fig. 2, A). All the clothes and the wooden coffin were taken to the Sok Jus'on Memorial Museum of Tangguk University for further analysis. The mummy was examined by the staff of the Tangguk University Medical College, as well as their colleagues from other institutions.

Restoration of medieval clothing and other finds

We tried to recover the items found with the mummy. The inner coffin made of pine planks was restored for display in the museum. The following items were also recovered: chiyo-the cloth found at the bottom of the inner coffin, nama jeongjimak suyi - the boy's outer clothing, nama paji suyi - the boy's undergarment, somjangwi yoy-the boy's insulated outer clothing, sonin jeongjimak yoy - the adult's outer clothing, sonin sabokpaji yoy - the adult's undergarment, somoja-the hat, It was dressed for the dead, benedjogori - clothes of the newborn, menok-cloth that covered the face of the buried person (Fig. 3). Typological analysis of the fabric, conducted by specialists in medieval costume, allowed us to date the burial to the XII century.

Radiocarbon dating

The relative dates determined by the analysis of burial equipment or written sources are often controversial. Therefore, radiocarbon dating was performed to determine the absolute date of the mummy. 130 mg of silk suit fabric and 450 mg of cotton pillow were studied. To remove mineral and humic acid contamination, the samples were subjected to acid-base-acid treatment. Then, standard procedures were performed for incineration of the sample with the addition of copper oxide and subsequent reduction with graphite.

The 14C content in the tissue sample was measured by mass spectroscopy. The prepared graphite samples were placed in a tandem electrostatic accelerator (Model 4130). The study was conducted at the Inter-University Research Laboratory of Seoul National University. Oxalic acid was used as a standard sample. The relative content of 12C and 13C carbon isotopes in the sample, as well as the number of 14C ions, were measured from the accumulated ion beam flux using an ionization detector. Data analysis to determine the radiocarbon date was carried out using the recommended standard methods.

The dates of the fabric samples found with the boy's remains are 1360 ± 35 years A.D. (for cotton) and 1530 ± 55 years A.D. (for silk). The statistical average determined for the two dates is 1411 ± 42 years A.D. [Shin et al., 2003].

Determining the age of the mummy

To determine the age of the child, radiography of both hands was performed on the bones of the wrist. Images of the skull from various angles were also obtained. Radiographs allowed us to draw a conclusion about the degree of ossification of developing teeth. The degree of ossification of the central and lateral incisors, canines, and first and second upper and lower molars on the left side of the jaw was determined by the Nolla system (1960). Using the Demirjian graph [Demirjian, Goldstein, and Tanner, 1973], the stage of development of the left lower teeth was estimated. According to the Korean wrist ossification scale, the child's age is 5.2-6.3 years. According to the Nolla system [1960], it was approximately 4.5 to 6.6 years, and according to the Demirjian method [Demirjian, Goldstein, and Tanner, 1973], it was 5.0 to 5.9 years. Based on

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3. Restored objects found near the mummy: inner coffin made of pine boards (A); chiyo - cloth lying at the bottom of the inner coffin (B); Nama jeongjimak suyi - boy's outer clothing (C, D, E); Nama Paji suyi - child's undergarment (F): somjangvi - insulated boy's outer clothing (G); sonin jeongjimak - adult's outer clothing (W, I); sonin sabokpaji - adult's undergarment (K); somoja - hat worn for the deceased (L); benejogori - newborn's clothing (M); myeongmok - cloth used for the newborn's clothing (M). covered the faces of the buried (N).

Figure 4. General view of the mummy (A); head with darker skin areas on the face (B); abdominal cavity (marked with red arrows) is significantly damaged, hands are crossed in the groin area (C) feet are turned to the right side (D).

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Based on these two estimates of age based on teeth and wrists, we believe that the child was approximately 4.5-6.6 years old (Shin et al., 2003).

DNA testing

DNA was extracted from the tissues of the mummy's internal organs (lung, liver, muscle) by phenol chloroform extraction, followed by precipitation with alcohol, dissolution in water, and purification on a silica column. DNA samples were successfully amplified using fragments of hypervariable Mt DNA regions (HV1, HV2, and HV3) and Y-chromosome STR loci, including DYS 19, DYS 389, DYS 390, DYS 391, and DYS392hDYS393.

The results obtained indicate the preservation of DNA and the possibility of its use in paleogenetic studies.

Investigation of physical parameters

To obtain information about the mummy's physical condition, a visual examination was performed. The length of the body is 102 cm. The skin on some parts of the body has changed in color-it has become darker as a result of drying, but in general its safety is relatively good. The skin is elastic and separates from the bones. The folds on the skin are dense, sometimes compressed. Her dark hair is pulled back in a traditional Korean style bun. The mouth is wide open; the tongue and teeth are clearly visible in it (Figure 4). The abdominal region is noticeably depressed, presumably due to drying out of the abdominal contents. The hands are crossed and located in the groin area. Feet turned to the right side. All the nails are perfectly preserved. On the back, there are holes in the soft tissues, thanks to which organ samples were taken from the internal cavity for research.

X-ray examination

Frontal and lateral retgenograms of the entire body, skull, and both arms were made, as well as spiral CT scans of the entire body and head on sections 2.5 mm thick at an angle of 6° with a reconstruction interval of 2.5 mm. Multi-plane images reflecting changes in the entire body were obtained in the frontal, sagittal, and oblique planes. X-ray and tomograms were analyzed by radiologists. A multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan was also performed.

The results of X-ray and tomographic studies used to determine the state of preservation of the mummy's internal organs were published [Shin et al., 2003]. As the whole-body radiograph showed, the mummy's bone density was not significantly different from that of a living person (Fig. 5, A). In some parts, for example, on the thighs, the muscles are well preserved. Since structures corresponding in density to soft tissues were found in the cranial cavity, we used MDCT to create a three-dimensional reconstruction that allowed us to see the brain (Fig. 5, B). Since the shadow shifted depending on the change in the location of the mummy, we believe that the brain was not attached to the bones of the skull [Ibid]. At the distal end of the left femur, the gap between the epiphysis and the diaphysis is not closed (Fig.

Figure 5. X-ray of the whole body (A); three-dimensional model reconstructed using MDCT (B); enlarged image of epiphyseal cartilage (shown by the dotted line) of the femur fragment (Fa), patella (Pa), and tibia (Tib) (C).

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6. Image of the skin obtained using a scanning electron microscope (A): Ep-epidermis, Dm-dermis, Sf-skin surface; skin surface with a pore for the hair shaft (marked with an arrow) (B): vascular remains in the hypodermis (C); collagen fibers inside the dermal layer (D, E); mummified hair before and after washing (E, F); hair of a living adult (H).

To see the organs preserved in the abdominal cavity more clearly, a CT scan was performed. In the frontal view, we saw an intact skeleton, including the skull, spine, chest, pelvic bones, as well as part of the bones of the upper and lower limbs. The preservation of soft tissues on the bones is good. The liver, spinal cord, and back muscles are clearly visible. The remains of the spleen, stomach, and back muscles were located in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity [Ibid]. In the left side of the chest, a thin layer of soft tissue is fixed - the remains of the heart. The mass of soft tissue in the right posterior part of the chest is the liver and remains of the right lung [Ibid].

Establishing the cause of death of the child

Since the child died at an early age, it is very important to find out the cause of his death. First of all, we conducted diatom tests to rule out drowning as a possible cause of death.

Microscopic observation after splitting the lung tissue with strong acid revealed no diatoms, which led to the conclusion that the boy did not drown. Additional inspection with the naked eye did not give any information. A histopathological test of the lung revealed a blood clot in the bronchiole [Ibid]. Therefore, it can be assumed that the boy died of asphyxia, which occurred as a result of bleeding in the respiratory tract (heavy throat bleeding could not be the root cause of death). We hope to clarify the cause of death when conducting additional research.

Histological studies

Skin, skeletal muscle, lung, and liver samples were taken for analysis. To rehydrate and fix the mummified tissues, they were immersed overnight in a 4% paraformaldehyde solution. After fixation, sections were dehydrated with po-

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with the power of ethanol of different concentrations (70 - 100%), for 1 hour in each solution. After xylene treatment, the tissues were placed in a vacuum furnace (3 times for 1 h each sample). After immersion in paraffin, sections with a thickness of 8 mm were made using a microtome, as described in the study [Anderson. Gordon, 1996]. Sections of fabric were fixed on the glass, paraffin was removed using xylene (3 times for 5 minutes) and 70-100% alcohol. After washing with water, the sections were submerged for 5 minutes in a hematoxylin solution and for 2 minutes in an eosin solution (for a description of the procedure, see [Stevens and Wilson, 1996]). For electron microscopy, the mummified tissues were rehydrated and fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde solution and 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution in a neutral phosphate buffer. The tissues were fixed for 1 h in a 1% solution of osmic acid, in a salt solution with phosphate buffer, dehydrated with ethanol of increasing concentration, and placed in Epon 812. Ultra-thin sections were cut and placed on nickel grids with a formar film substrate. Cross-section studies were performed with or without the addition of uranyl as a contrast agent on a JEOL 1200 EX-II electron microscope. Microscopic examination was performed in accordance with the previously described method (see [Anderson et al., 1996]). Hair samples were previously fixed in a neutral phosphate buffer before immersion in a 4% paraformaldehyde solution and 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution, and then for 2 hours in a 1% osmic acid solution dissolved in a phosphate-buffered salt solution. The samples were then treated with an increasing concentration of ethanol and isoamyl acetate, and then dried at a critical temperature in a dryer and coated with gold using an ionizer. The research was conducted on the JSM-840 A SEM device.

We noticed that the thickness of the epidermis changed the most (Fig. 6, A). On the enlarged image of the epidermis, only the stratum corneum is fixed. Under an electron microscope, the pores for the hair shaft are clearly visible (Fig. As for the hypodermis, the remains of fat cells were preserved in it, but their nuclei were not detected [Shinetal., 2003]. Even the remains of blood vessels were found in the hypodermis (Fig. When magnified, long fibers could be seen in the dermis, apparently mainly collagen. Ultramicroscopic observation clearly revealed transverse striation, which indicates the predominance of collagen fibers of the dermis (Fig. 6, D, E).

The same collagen fibers are found in most mummified organs, with the exception of the bronchi and alveoli [Ibid]. In the airways, the bronchial cavity surrounded by bronchial cartilage tissue was filled with red blood cells [Ibid]. Chondrocytes (cartilage cells) are clearly visible inside the bronchial cartilage [Ibid]. Although most of the lung parenchyma is not preserved, some parts of the mummified lung show an alveolar structure represented by alveolar epithelial cells [Ibid].

Cells with nuclei are clearly visible in the mummy's muscles and liver [Ibid]. Since the cells with nuclei were often not identified in the study of other mummies, it can be assumed that the studied mummy is better preserved than mummies found in other countries. The ultramicroscopic study involved determining the degree of preservation of the mummy's hair. After the buried person's hair was washed, it turned out that it was not very different in structure from the hair of a living adult (Fig. 6, F, F, H).

Discussion

How could the mummy have been preserved?

To date, many reports on ancient and medieval mummies have been published. Experts divide the causes of mummification into natural and artificial. In the case of Korean medieval mummies, one cannot limit oneself to such a simple classification, since mummification took place under unique conditions. In medieval Korea, the bodies of the dead were not artificially processed. Mummification is probably the result of the complete isolation of the interior of the coffin from the external environment using a lime barrier. However, additional research is required to determine more precisely the causes of mummification of the found body.

Unique features of a Korean medieval Mummy

A comparison of the results of histological studies revealed similarities between mummies found on the Korean Peninsula and in other parts of the world. It was found that the myelin sheath, collagen fibers, and chondrocyte nuclei show significant resistance to decomposition processes, while structures including epithelium, recticular fiber, and muscles are less preserved during mummification [Hess et al., 1998]. Nevertheless, we must emphasize the features of the mummies found in Korea. Since the bodies were mummified due to natural causes, the intestines, brain and spinal cord were completely preserved. Mummies found in Egypt and the Altai have had their internal organs specially removed for better protection.-

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features of the body. Korean mummies of the Middle Ages are thus a source of invaluable information about the health of people of that time. It is important that Korean medieval mummies can be easily identified: information about people who were buried in the cemetery was recorded in family documents or on tombstones. All the names of the mummified man's ancestors and descendants were carefully inscribed in the family genealogical documents - chokpo. It is established that a child named Ho, who lived in the 17th century, is buried in Yangju; he died between 1680 and 1683 A.D. Since the boy passed away at an early age, his personal history is not very long. However, we can get more detailed information about other people whose bodies were mummified, as the ancestral records often contain a rich history of individuals. State chronicles of the Joseon Dynasty and other historical documents detail the lives of the people whose mummies were found.

In the burials with mummies, accompanying items have been preserved, which are sources of very important information about medieval Korea. All the clothes placed next to the mummy under study probably belonged to the child himself or his parents. It reflects the style of people who lived in the XVII century in this province and belonged to the same social stratum. According to the things found next to the mummy, you can judge the relationship between the family and the deceased. The presence of adult clothing in the grave indicates parental attachment to the child: the parents ' clothing was not included in the traditional set of items that were placed in the coffin. A child who died before their parents was not buried according to the ritual accepted in Joseon society, so this burial with a rich accompanying inventory has a special scientific value. Obviously, the parents were very sad about the deceased child, otherwise during the Joseon dynasty, a funeral ceremony for such a small boy was hardly possible. Based on the data of generic documents, the remains of objects found near mummies, we can judge the standard of living of certain genera. In this case, we can conclude that the family to which the child belonged was not too rich: in the burial there are clothes with patches.

In conclusion, medieval burials with mummies contain invaluable information about Korean society in the Middle Ages.

Challenges and future research

Most of the medieval mummies found on the peninsula can not be the subject of scientific research, even if the accompanying objects, including ancient documents, clothing, wooden sarcophagi, were transported to museums to study the medieval society of Korea. The fact is that in Korea, any actions with the bodies of the deceased are considered unacceptable. Medieval mummies are usually reburied or cremated without being subjected to scientific research. There was a need to develop effective methods of studying that do not destroy the body. Using them, we will be able, with the consent of descendants, to conduct a cursory examination of the mummies found, which will later be reburied or cremated.

Currently, the MDCT/3D reconstruction technique is known, which is used to collect information about the internal organs of mummies without damaging the bodies themselves. This technique has proven effective in non-invasive studies of Egyptian mummies. If its reliability is confirmed in determining the degree of preservation of the internal organs of the mummy in question, it will be possible to create a database of virtual images of medieval Korean mummies. It is also possible to use endoscopic and ultrasound methods that are often used in the diagnosis of diseases.

The importance of interdisciplinary study of mummified bodies should be emphasized. Data obtained using natural science methods should be interpreted by representatives of various fields of knowledge, including historians or archaeologists, since only joint efforts of scientists can restore a complete picture of the life of medieval Korean society.

List of literature

Anderson G., Gordon K. C. Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. -N.Y.: Churchill Livingstone, 1996.

Demirjian A., Goldstein H., Tanner J.M. A new system of dental age assessment // Hum. Biol. - 1973. - Vol. 45. -P. 211 - 227.

Hess M.W., Klima G., Pfaller K., Kunzel K. H., Gaber O. Histologiacal investigations on the Tyrolean Ice Man // J. Phys. Anthropol. - 1998. -Vol. 106. -P. 521 - 532.

Nolla C. The development of the permanent teeth // J. Dent Child. - 1960. - Vol. 27. - P. 254 - 266.

Shin D.H., Choi Y.H., Shin K.J., Han G.R., Youn M., Kim C.Y., Han S.H., Seo J.C., Park S.S., Cho Y.J., Chang B. S. Radiological analysis on a mummy from a medieval tomb in Korea //Ann. Anat - 2003. - Vol. 185. - P. 377 - 382.

Shin D.H., Youn M., Chang B.S. Histological analysis on the medieval mummy in Korea // Forensic Sci. Int. -2003. -Vol. 137. -P. 172 - 182.

Stevens A., Wilson I.G. Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. -N.Y: Churchill Livingstone, 1996. -P. 316 - 321.

The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 22.11.05.

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