THE BIOCHEMICAL AND GENETIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL OSSEOUS MATERIAL

A 15th century church cemetery was excavated during the renovation works near the Holy Mary church in Szczecin-Dabie (north-western Poland). A mummified left female forearm with a cat skeleton on it was found among other bones. This finding was then examined and the results are enclosed in this article. The aim of the study was to assess the sex, age, body height, type of body constitution and the social status of this individual. The use of modern radiological, biochemical and genetic techniques helped to enhance knowledge about the person whose mummified forearm was found. The analysis of the cuff material was performed in order to assess the century in which the mummified forearm was buried. Metallic elements like Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Pb and Fe were measured using atomic spectrometry. In order to assess possible diet of the individual, fluorides were measured using standard potentiometric method. DNA was isolated and then amplified using standard PCR technique.