Mystery over 350-year-old bishop buried with FOETUS between his legs finally solved
A BISHOP buried with a foetus between his legs almost 350 years ago has baffled archaeologists since they made the discovery in 2012.
A new study claims to finally provide some answers to why Bishop of Lund Peder Pedersen Winstrup had stillborn remains placed behind and between his calves.
Winstrup was bishop of the Churches of Sweden and Denmark in the 17th century.
He was mummified after his death at the age of 74 in 1679 and buried in a family vault in Sweden's Lund Cathedral.
Archaeologists were given the chance to study his remains in 2012 and were shocked to find a five or six month old foetus buried between the bishop's legs.
The remains of the baby were seemingly hidden behind the legs and in the lining of the coffin as if someone didn't want others to notice.
"The foetus of a boy placed in the coffin could thus be the grandson of the bishop.
In other news, an unearthed stone slab dating back to the Bronze Age may represent Europe's oldest map.
Human skulls were transformed into pots and drinking cups as recently as 4,000 years ago by Bronze Age Brits.
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And, the graves of 50 slaves who were forced to build an elite Roman villa in the UK have been unearthed.
What do you make of the foetus mystery? Let us know in the comments...
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