| Yoon Clan Woman | |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Unknown |
| Age | Unknown |
| Sex | Female/Male Fetus |
| Status | elite |
| Height | |
| Source | |
| Culture | Joseon Dynasty, Korea |
| Date(s) | 16th Century |
| Site | |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Papyeong, Gyeonggi, South Korea |
| Catalog # | |
Within a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) hoegyeok (tomb) of Yun Jeong-jeong discovered in 2002, was the mummified body of a pregnant woman of the Yoon Clan, who lived during the 16th century. Speculation suggests she was the granddaughter of Yun Won-hyung, brother of Queen Munjeong.
The significance of this find rests in the presence of a mummified fetus. It is been the only recorded find of both a mother and child mummy. The death of the mother and son was due to complications during labor.
Mummification[]
The body was mummified as a result of the structure of the Hoegyeok tomb she was encased in a double-sided coffin and covered with a layer of a limestone mixture. This process insulated the body from water and air, which cause decay.
Mummification occurred after they were buried in hoegyeok tombs. These tombs consisted of double sided coffins with a layer of limestone to cover the top. This practice created an air tight seal in the coffin, resulting in isolation from water and air, which causes decay in human bodies.
Studies[]
The exceptional preservation of the mummies from the brain to the intestines, has allowed scientists to answer questions about everyday life in the Joseon Dynasty. They identified her diet was and health issues.
Korean university scientists were able to create a three-dimensional representation of the situation that lead to the death of the mother and her child.
Pathology[]
She apparently died after a rupture in her womb in the final stage of labour. The child died unborn.
Additional[]
Several Papyeong Yoon women became queens during the early Joseon Dynasty, they include Queen Munjeong and Queen Janggyeong. Last ruling Empress, Empress Sunjeong of the Korean Empire, was from another Yoon clan, Haepyeong Yoon. The Haepyeong Yoon clan was originally part of the Papyeong clan but broke away forming their own clan.
External Links[]
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2904524
Joseon dead found perfectly preserved in air-tight tombs. (2009, May 7). Retrieved April 06, 2016, from http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2904524