Green Mummy from Italy: Unraveling a 400-Year-Old Color Mystery.

According to ТСН: Experts conducted a study on the only known mummy in the world with a bright green hue. These are the remains of a teenager who died 200-400 years ago in Italy.

The mummified remains were discovered during excavations in Bologna. The skeleton is almost completely preserved, except for the feet. This is a human skeleton with remnants of soft tissues that have been stained green.

Causes of Death and Burial

Chemical analyses revealed no diseases or injuries, so the cause of death remains unknown. The presence of an expensive copper coffin, estimated at approximately $260,000 by modern standards, suggests that the teenager came from a wealthy family.

Importantly, the teenager was buried in a copper coffin. Inside the coffin, the body underwent decay, liquefaction, skeletonization, and partial mummification.

Mummification Processes

These processes led to the release of acids that slowly destroyed the coffin, releasing copper decay products. They mixed with the remains, staining the bones and soft tissues. The bones took on color due to the displacement of calcium by copper ions, while the soft tissues became coated in a greenish layer (verdigris), which can be seen on old statues.

It should be noted that scientists also used digital technologies to remove masks and recreate the appearance of the faces of

mummies

This discovery opens new horizons for exploring the ancient history of Italy and the burial methods practiced at that time. The mummification process and the nature of the staining of the remains provide a unique opportunity to study the impact of materials used in burials on the condition of the remains. Researchers hope that further studies will help uncover more secrets about the lives and deaths of people in past eras.