Search

This article presents an archaeoparasitological analysis of a child mummy from the medieval Zeleniy Yar burial ground (12-13th centuries AD) located in the northern part of western Siberia. Analysis of samples from the intestinal contents of the child mummy revealed eggs of Opisthorchis felineus, suggesting that people of the region consumed raw or undercooked fish during the Middle Ages. Palynological data suggest that death probably occurred in the winter since this sample was free of ‘environmental-type’ pollen from wind-pollinated plants. The sample was also free of the so-called ‘economic-type’ pollen, suggesting that medicinal plants, namely different teas or herbs, had not been consumed, suggesting that no attempts were made to cure the ill child using these agents.

Notwithstanding the pioneering achievements of studies on arctic mummies in Siberia, there are insufficient data for any comprehensive understanding of the bio-cultural details of medieval people living in the region. In the Western Siberian arctic, permafrost mummies have been found in 12th to 13th century graves located in the Zeleny Yar (Z-Y) burial ground (66°19'4.54"С; 67°21'13.54"В). In 2013–2016, we were fortunate to be able to excavate that cemetery, locating a total of 47 burials, including cases of mummification. Some of these mummies had been wrapped in a multi-layered birch-bark cocoon. After removal of the cocoon, we conducted interdisciplinary studies using various scientific techniques. Gross anatomical examination and CT radiography showed that the internal organs were still well preserved inside the body cavities. Under light and electron microscopy, the histological findings were very similar to those for naturally mummified specimens discovered in other countries. Ancient DNA analysis showed that the Z-Y mummies’ mtDNA haplotypes belong to five different haplogroups, namely U5a (#34), H3ao (#53), D (#67–1), U4b1b1 (#67–2), and D4j8 (#68), which distinguish them for their unique combination of Western- and Eastern Siberia-specific mtDNA haplogroups. Our interdisciplinary study obtained fundamental information that will form the foundation of successful future investigations on medieval mummies found in the Western Siberian arctic.