Looking deep into the past – virtual autopsy of a Mongolian warrior

Abstract

Introduction: In 2016, a well-preserved mummy was discovered in the cold and dry climate of the Altai Mountains in the western part of Mongolia. The mummy was thought to have been a mounted warrior based on its riding boots and the saddle, bow and arrow found beside the body. A virtual autopsy was approved to obtain additional information on the body's internal structure and to possibly determine the cause of death.
Materials and Methods: A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed on the Mongolian mummy using a 64-slice CT scanner. In addition to multiplanar reconstructions, volume and cinematic rendering techniques were applied for three-dimensional visualization.
Results: The shape of the pelvis indicated male sex. The skull demonstrated a flat facial profile, common among ancient Mongolian populations. Signs of periodontitis were detected in one of the six remaining teeth. The intact hyoid and thyroid were visible on the CT images together with the cartilaginous parts of the trachea, which excluded a laryngeal fracture. Signs of degenerative alterations (Schmorl´s nodes and osteophytes) were identified in the lumbar spine, attributed to regular which might be a sign of skeletal changes induced by horse riding. Indications for a violent cause of death were not detected.
Conclusion: Through CT examination, some degenerative changes and pathological findings could be detected noninvasively. Although no cause of death could be determined, radiodiagnostic findings, such as degenerative alterations in the lumbar spine, were relevant, for instance, supporting the original hypothesis of a mounted warrior based on the saddle and riding boots found.