Coffin From Civil War Uncovers Mystery [View All]

[beam me up scottie]

Coffin From Civil War Uncovers Mystery

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 4, 2005; 10:05 PM

WASHINGTON -- The rusty iron coffin stubbornly resisted hammer and chisel as researchers in a warm Smithsonian laboratory sought a glimpse of an American who lived more than a century and a half ago.
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"This is a person and we want to tell this person's story. She is our primary obligation," anthropologist Doug Owsley said as the lid was lifted to reveal a young body wrapped in a brown shroud.

The scientists hope to identify the remains so they can have a properly marked grave. In the process, they have a chance to learn about mortuary practices of the period, what disease and trauma people may have suffered, their diet, past environments, clothing and perhaps even social customs.

This photo provided by the Smithsonian shows anthropologist Kari Bruwelheide, right, and Doug Owsley, head of physical anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History, center, and others, examine the remains of an iron coffin, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005, at the museum in Washington. The rusty iron coffin stubbornly resisted hammer and chisel as researchers in a warm Smithsonian laboratory sought a glimpse of an American who lived more than a century and a half ago. Finally, the power of an electric drill freed the lid, the orange cord snaking incongruously around the pre-Civil War artifact. (AP Photo/Smithsonian) (AP)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/04/AR2005080401352.html