In an effort to understand more about ancient diseases, a scientist who previously examined the remains of Hitler is now examining the mummified body of an Ecuadorian Franciscan from the 16th century.

December 10, 2023 42.6K views

A mummy dating back to the 16th century which was discovered after an earthquake in Ecuador in 1949 is now being examined by French pathologist Philippe Charlier. Experts say that the relatively well-preserved cardboard-like figure could hold clues to the history of diseases as his bones contain traces of rheumatoid arthritis

Dr Charlier, who has studied the remains of Hitler, Descartes, Robespierre, is studying the mummy, said to be a friar, discovered in the town of Guano, Ecuador. It was discovered between the walls of a convent in a horizontal position jnext to a mummified rat, according to reports

As the body was placed in a wall with a cold, dry environment, it was protected from flies and larvae so the tissues which bear the marks of the rheumatoid polyarthritis are well-preserved

An earthquake in the Andean center of Ecuador in 1949 revealed the strange burial of the supposed Franciscan monk and guardian of the convent from 1560 to 1565, according to the San Francisco University of Quito, which participates in the research

Research has not yet determined the date of death, but has determined its most likely cause: a chin fistula that has degenerated into abscess, sepsis or encephalitis. It also remains to confirm the idenтιтy of the mummy by studying the records of the Franciscan order

Dr Charlier studied the mummy for two days. He took samples of bone and dry tissue for genetic analysis and carbon 14, or radiocarbon which would provide more indications to the genesis of the disease