Fatty acid composition and preservation of the Tyrolean Iceman and other mummies

In anthropology, objective parameters to adequately describe storage conditions and the preservation of mummies have yet to be identified. Considering that fatty acids degrade to stable products, we analysed their profile in human mummies and in control samples by gas chromatography coupled to mass...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of lipid research 2002-12, Vol.43 (12), p.2056-2061
Main Authors: Makristathis, Athanasios, Schwarzmeier, Josef, Mader, Robert M, Varmuza, Kurt, Simonitsch, Ingrid, Chavez, Jose Chavez, Platzer, Werner, Unterdorfer, Hans, Scheithauer, Richard, Derevianko, Anatoly, Seidler, Horst
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anthropologic specimens
fatty acid degradation
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Linoleic Acid
Mummies
mummification
Oleic Acid
Waxes
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Summary:In anthropology, objective parameters to adequately describe storage conditions and the preservation of mummies have yet to be identified. Considering that fatty acids degrade to stable products, we analysed their profile in human mummies and in control samples by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Originating from different epochs and civilizations, samples of the Tyrolean Iceman, other glacier corpses, a freeze dried mummy, corpses from a permafrost region, a corpse mummified immersed in water, and a desert mummy were evaluated. Chemometric analysis based on the concentrations of 16 fatty acids revealed the degree of similarity between anthropologic and fresh corpse samples, which was mainly influenced by the content of palmitic acid, oleic acid, and 10-hydroxystearic acid. The presence of 10-hydroxystearic acid was associated with immersion in water, whereas dry mummification was accompanied by high contents of oleic acid. Samples of the Tyrolean Iceman clustered between fresh tissue and those of other glacier corpses indicating the good preservation of this mummy. Thus, environmental post-mortem conditions were associated with characteristic fatty acid patterns suggesting that chemometric analysis of fatty acid contents may add to our knowledge about post-mortem storage conditions and the preservation of human corpses.
ISSN:0022-2275
DOI:10.1194/jlr.M100424-JLR200