Boy’s body was mummified and turned green by a copper coffin

An intriguing discovery has been made in northern Italy, where the mummified remains of an adolescent boy have been found in a copper box, making him the only near-complete green mummy ever known. This unique find sheds light on ancient burial practices and preservation techniques.

While other ancient body parts have been partially mummified or turned green due to burial with copper or bronze objects, such as the green, mummified hand of a newborn baby found in medieval Hungary, the Italian mummy stands out for its almost complete green coloration from skin to bone, with the exception of the feet.

The mummy was originally unearthed in the basement of an ancient villa in Bologna in 1987 and later underwent forensic analysis at the University of Bologna. Medical experts determined that the mummy belonged to a boy aged between 12 to 14 years old, and it has since been meticulously preserved at the university.

Collaborating with a team of specialists including geneticists, anthropologists, radiologists, mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists, conservation scientist Annamaria Alabiso from the University of Rome Tor Vergata led an extensive investigation into the mummy. This multidisciplinary approach provided valuable insights into the preservation and unique green coloration of the mummified remains.

Detailed chemical and physical analyses revealed that the boy’s death occurred between 1617 and 1814, with no apparent signs of trauma or disease. The presence of copper in the burial box played a crucial role in preserving both the soft and hard tissues of the body, showcasing the antimicrobial properties of this metal.

Interestingly, the interaction between copper ions and chemical compounds in the bone resulted in a gradual replacement of calcium, leading to the green tint observed in the skeleton. The skin of the mummy was covered in a patina of copper corrosion products, formed as a result of the body’s decomposition process.

Despite the corrosion of the copper box, which likely occurred due to acid leakage from the body, the mummy remained in a cool, dry chamber with minimal oxygen, slowing down the decomposition process. It is believed that the boy’s feet may have detached and been lost when the bottom of the box cracked open.

Reflecting on the experience of studying this unique find, Alabiso expressed deep emotion, highlighting the significance of working with such rare human remains. The mummy’s discovery has captivated experts like Giulia Gallo from the Collège de France in Paris, who praised the comprehensive analysis conducted by the research team.

This groundbreaking study not only enhances our understanding of ancient burial practices and preservation techniques but also underscores the complexity of the interactions between heavy metals and human remains. The mummified boy in the copper box stands as a testament to the intricate processes that contribute to the preservation of such remarkable archaeological finds.

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