Photo Gallery Return from the Crypt
When they died, Germany noble families of the 18th century did what the Egyptians had done before them: they had themselves mummified. As more well-preserved corpses are discovered, modern scientists are trying to find out why, and how, the ancient aristocrats had themselves embalmed.
Well preserved: A fascinating insight into a bygone era is provided by 29 very well preserved mummies found in a vault under the church of the Benedictine abbey in Riesa, located in the eastern German state of Saxony.
Foto: Wilfried Rosendahl / Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim
The group of scientists is currently looking into why so many German aristocrats were mummified. Here, researchers scan the remains of the late Baron von Holz.
Foto: Wilfried Rosendahl / Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim
The computer reconstruction of Baron von Holz' skull. Scientists don't know the origin of mummification in Germany.
Foto: Wilfried Rosendahl / Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim
Baron von Holz: The tall warrior must have cut quite a formidable figure. He had the angular skull of a rugby player and remarkably healthy teeth for the period.
Foto: Ursula Wittwer-Backofen, Freiburg / German Mummy Project
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