Details on the body
Ancient lacquered dinnerware and stamp were two of the invaluable artefats found in Mawangdui
|
A description of the body as it is today.Lady Dai's body was remarkably preserved. Her skin was soft and moist, with muscles, limbs and internal organs still intact. Surprisingly, her thinning black hair were soft and delicate and most notably her veins still ran dried type A blood.
For the preparation of her sumptuous afterlife and the showcase of Lady Dai's affluence, her family wrapped the noblewoman in 22 dresses of silk and hemp bounded her with nine silk ribbons, eventually covering her face with a mask. |
Personal Details
Xin Zhui was an affluent noblewoman married to Li Cheng, a Chinese marquis who ruled the fiefdom of Dai, now known as the modern Changsha during the Han Dynasty (206BC- 220AD). She was also a significant member of the Xin powerful clan and bore a son (name is not known). At 158cm tall and 70kg, the aristocrat indulged in life's finest as offered in the Han Dynasty. Considered as a star of the Dai region, she frequently held dinner banquets with orchestrated music, incense and several servants at her command.
Although her lavishing, opulent and sumptuous banquet was also considered a downfall by cardiologists. Her stomach was home to many delicacies such as swans, dogs and pheasants. At the same time, it became a maginificant shelter for tapeworms, whip worms and other parasites. Scientists also found over 100 perfectly undigested melon seeds. This was a crucial clue which stated the noblewoman had insufficient time to breakdown before she she perished. Remarkably, Lady Dai had quite the combination of health concerns, as followed:
- Obesity -gallstone -liver disease
- Overweight -high blood pressure -coronary artery were almost completely enclosed with fat
- high cholesterol -diabetes
Lady Dai was the first example of a human diagnosed with heart disease in ancient times. Until her discovery, cardiologists never believed this affliction existed.
Through forensic analysis and x rays, cardiologists recreated the final breathing moments of the prosperous aristocrat in her fifties. After an hour of devouring melons in a hurry, Lady Dai felt an excruciating affliction although not her heart. The pain continued until the final fatal blow conducted by a gallstone blocking the opening of the bio duct. Thus Lady Dai was struck to eternal sleep.
Although her lavishing, opulent and sumptuous banquet was also considered a downfall by cardiologists. Her stomach was home to many delicacies such as swans, dogs and pheasants. At the same time, it became a maginificant shelter for tapeworms, whip worms and other parasites. Scientists also found over 100 perfectly undigested melon seeds. This was a crucial clue which stated the noblewoman had insufficient time to breakdown before she she perished. Remarkably, Lady Dai had quite the combination of health concerns, as followed:
- Obesity -gallstone -liver disease
- Overweight -high blood pressure -coronary artery were almost completely enclosed with fat
- high cholesterol -diabetes
Lady Dai was the first example of a human diagnosed with heart disease in ancient times. Until her discovery, cardiologists never believed this affliction existed.
Through forensic analysis and x rays, cardiologists recreated the final breathing moments of the prosperous aristocrat in her fifties. After an hour of devouring melons in a hurry, Lady Dai felt an excruciating affliction although not her heart. The pain continued until the final fatal blow conducted by a gallstone blocking the opening of the bio duct. Thus Lady Dai was struck to eternal sleep.
How was the Body Preserved?
Lady Dai's corpse was definitely one of the best preserved bodies in history, due to 2 main reasons:
Lady Dai's corpse was definitely one of the best preserved bodies in history, due to 2 main reasons:
A well sealed tomb
The key to preserve the most complete intact corpse of Lady Dai was the ancient Chinese experienced embalmers' knowledge and techniques of creating an air and water raided tomb. Thus the morticians' vacuum sealed the Diva Mummy for an "eternal banquet" [John Verano]
Specific elements which preserved the dry body
1. Firstly Lady Dai was wrapped with 22 silk tapestries which smothered alive bacteria in her body.
2. There were 4 coffins each confined tightly inside another. The exquisite coffins were then coated with toxic raw lacquer (sap of lacquer tree) Please Note: acids assisted in terminating flesh demolishing bacteria.
3. The coffins were protected in a tremendous tomb nearly 3m high, 6m long and wide.The tomb was buried 12m underground.
4. Surrounding the freezing burial chamber were 5 tonnes of charcoal. Encased with one meter thick of moisturised, white clay known as kaolin.
5.Finally, the process concluded with a tight seal of soil and 15m high of earth mounting on top.
The key to preserve the most complete intact corpse of Lady Dai was the ancient Chinese experienced embalmers' knowledge and techniques of creating an air and water raided tomb. Thus the morticians' vacuum sealed the Diva Mummy for an "eternal banquet" [John Verano]
Specific elements which preserved the dry body
1. Firstly Lady Dai was wrapped with 22 silk tapestries which smothered alive bacteria in her body.
2. There were 4 coffins each confined tightly inside another. The exquisite coffins were then coated with toxic raw lacquer (sap of lacquer tree) Please Note: acids assisted in terminating flesh demolishing bacteria.
3. The coffins were protected in a tremendous tomb nearly 3m high, 6m long and wide.The tomb was buried 12m underground.
4. Surrounding the freezing burial chamber were 5 tonnes of charcoal. Encased with one meter thick of moisturised, white clay known as kaolin.
5.Finally, the process concluded with a tight seal of soil and 15m high of earth mounting on top.
The Long Lost Elixir
Ancient Chinese manuscript offered details of embalming the deceased. As followed:
1. Wash the corpse
2. wrap in clothing
3. place body in wooden coffin
4. Pour in liquid prior to capping the coffin
"Was the mysterious liquid a decisive role to completely preserve a body?" [narrator of
(Cinnabar in crystallised form)
Documentary, The Diva Mummy].
Surprisingly, when Lady Dai was found, she was in fact floating on 76 liters of reddish brown, rum like liquid. Many scientists regarded the liquid as "a long lost elixir of preserving human flesh"
After further chemical analysis, the coffin fluid was found mildly acidic with traces of cinnabar, a mercury sulfate or (and) an ancient Chinese medicine, widely known as the eternal life elixir consumed by Qin Shi Huang.
Overall after more than four decades of analysing and interpreting the intact corpse, what baffled the scientist was the location of the tomb, Yangtze River Valley. It is regarded as the worst area to preserve a body as of the humidity and damp soil. Also how did the mysterious liquid enter the coffin but not the burial chamber?. That is entirely another everlasting debate among scientists.
Ancient Chinese manuscript offered details of embalming the deceased. As followed:
1. Wash the corpse
2. wrap in clothing
3. place body in wooden coffin
4. Pour in liquid prior to capping the coffin
"Was the mysterious liquid a decisive role to completely preserve a body?" [narrator of
(Cinnabar in crystallised form)
Documentary, The Diva Mummy].
Surprisingly, when Lady Dai was found, she was in fact floating on 76 liters of reddish brown, rum like liquid. Many scientists regarded the liquid as "a long lost elixir of preserving human flesh"
After further chemical analysis, the coffin fluid was found mildly acidic with traces of cinnabar, a mercury sulfate or (and) an ancient Chinese medicine, widely known as the eternal life elixir consumed by Qin Shi Huang.
Overall after more than four decades of analysing and interpreting the intact corpse, what baffled the scientist was the location of the tomb, Yangtze River Valley. It is regarded as the worst area to preserve a body as of the humidity and damp soil. Also how did the mysterious liquid enter the coffin but not the burial chamber?. That is entirely another everlasting debate among scientists.