The ‘relics of Joan of Arc’: A forensic multidisciplinary analysis

• Published in: Forensic science international 2010-01, Vol.194 (1), p.e9-e15
• Main Authors: Charlier, P, Poupon, J, Eb, A, De Mazancourt, P, Gilbert, T, Huynh-Charlier, I, Loublier, Y, Verhille, A.M, Moulheirat, C, Patou-Mathis, M, Robbiola, L, Montagut, R, Masson, F, Etcheberry, A, Brun, L, Willerslev, E, Lorin de la Grandmaison, G, Durigon, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Archaeology; Archaeology and Prehistory; Bone and Bones - chemistry; Bone and Bones - pathology; Bones; Carbon dating; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cats; Cooperative Behavior; Cremation; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - isolation & purification; DNA analysis; DNA Fingerprinting - methods; Elementary analysis; Elements; Famous Persons; Forensic anthropology; Forensic Anthropology - methods; Forensic medicine; Forensic sciences; France; History, Medieval; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Joan of Arc; Mass Spectrometry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mummies - pathology; Paleopathology; Pathology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Relic; Studies
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.09.006

Abstract Archaeological remains can provide concrete cases, making it possible to develop, refine or validate medico-legal techniques. In the case of the so-called ‘Joan of Arc's relics’ (a group of bone and archaeological remains known as the ‘Bottle of Chinon’), 14 specialists analysed the samples such as a cadaver X of carbonised aspect: forensic anthropologist, medical examiners, pathologists, geneticists, radiologist, biochemists, palynologists, zoologist and archaeologist. Materials, methods and results of this study are presented here. This study aims to offer an exploitable methodology for the modern medico-legal cases of small quantities of human bones of carbonised aspect.