Introduction
When the revered coffin of Bishop Peder Winstrup was opened, the scientists and museologists were in for a surprise. There was a secret hidden in the coffin of this Swedish Bishop. The mortal remains of the Bishop Peder Winstrup were lying quietly in this coffin in the crypt of the magnificent cathedral at Lund in Sweden. Till it was opened, it looked like an enclosure for the revered Bishop. After it was opened, they found that the coffin contained not only the mortal remains of the Bishop but also that of a tiny baby. The body of the baby was tucked under his feet. Hence, the authorities could not detect the body of the baby within the coffin when it was previously excavated for maintenance.
When the revered coffin of Bishop Peder Winstrup was opened, the scientists and museologists were in for a surprise. There was a secret hidden in the coffin of this Swedish Bishop. The mortal remains of the Bishop Peder Winstrup were lying quietly in this coffin in the crypt of the magnificent cathedral at Lund in Sweden. Till it was opened, it looked like an enclosure for the revered Bishop. After it was opened, they found that the coffin contained not only the mortal remains of the Bishop but also that of a tiny baby. The body of the baby was tucked under his feet. Hence, the authorities could not detect the body of the baby within the coffin when it was previously excavated for maintenance.
350-year-old Secret in a Bishop’s Coffin
The coffin bearing the mortal remains of Bishop Winstrup was
lying quietly beneath the magnificent Lund Cathedral in Sweden. In the previous
excavation, the body was found to be in excellent condition, except for the
fading of colours of the clothes worn by it. The church authorities requested
the museologists to take a second look at the mummified body of the late
Bishop. The study was undertaken to apply modern scientific techniques to
preserve the embalmed body and bring to light some other fascinating facts
about this revered figure in Sweden. Therefore, the scientists and other staff
at the museum subjected the coffin to a CT scan to check its state. When the
film was examined, they were in for a pleasant surprise. They could see a dead
body of an infant underneath the feet of the bishop. This was not all expected.
CT Scan Details
From the analysis of CT scan, the scientists have concluded
that it could be that of a premature baby. They suspect that the baby could
have been born several months prematurely and illegitimately. According to the
Per Karsten, the director of the historical museum at Lund University, the
five- to six-month-old baby was deliberately concealed under the feet of the
Bishop at the time of his burial.
Suspecting some connection between the child and the Bishop, the
authorities are planning to conduct the DNA tests to find any linkage between
them. There was another surprise in store for the scientists from the University
of Lund museum. The scan revealed that the body of the pontiff was not embalmed
in the literal sense. In all likelihood, the body was naturally dried out
keeping intact all the internal organs. It further revealed that the body of the
Bishop was wrapped in a mattress made of herbs like juniper and wormwood. The
head of the Bishop was supported by a pillow of hops. These wrappings were
given to ensure that the body was naturally dried out and the smell from it
could be masked.
Life of Swedish Priest Peder Wintstrup
The latest excavation was designed to unravel the life of
this Bishop and the social conditions that were in existence during his time.
Widely, he was believed to have lived in the 17th century AD.
According to the church records, Bishop Peder Winstrup was a scholar,
collector, scientist and theologian. He is considered as one of the founders of
Lund University in Sweden. He was appointed as the Bishop of Lund when the
region was transferred from Danish control to Sweden Diocese. He held this post
till his death in 1679.
