In 1994, beneath a Dominican church in the town of Vác, Pest County, Hungary, archaeologists unearthed a remarkable discovery: several coffins containing remarkably well-preserved corpses. Among them, two mummies captured the attention of the researchers. These mummies belonged to a 38-year-old mother named Veronica Skripetz and her 1-year-old son, Johannes Orlovits.
In April 2016, doctors at the Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, California, conducted a forensic examination on the mummified remains of the mother and child. The purpose of this examination was to gain insights into their lives during that era and determine the cause of their deaths.
“Now, we can uncover the answers about their lives and explain why many children died in their infancy. They didn’t have antibiotics and vaccines. The mortality rate among children was very high,” said Ildiko Szikossy, an anthropologist from Hungary.
This means that thousands of children had to endure pain and loss of life due to diseases without antibiotics or vaccines. Johannes Orlovits was one of them.
The 300-year-old mummified bodies of a mother and child were found in the church’s crypt, revealing the truth about the suffering of countless children in the past – Photo 2. After transporting the mummified bodies over a distance of more than 9,000 km, scientists used modern computed tomography (CT) scanning techniques for analysis.
“The mother’s appearance is almost intact from top to bottom, while the child has some fragmented small bones. We really didn’t know what we would find. It’s like unveiling a curtain of surprises. The mother seems to have died of tuberculosis, but the CT results will reveal more details,” shared Dr. Jim Sutherland, a CT research expert.
The revelations about the tragic deaths of Veronica Skripetz and her young son, Johannes Orlovits, shed light on the harsh realities faced by individuals in the 19th century. Veronica’s death from tuberculosis and Johannes’s from dysentery underscore the prevalence of infectious diseases and the limited medical resources available during that time period.
The exhibition of their mummified remains at the Bowers Museum as part of the “Mummies of the World” program provided a unique opportunity for the public to learn about their lives and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. However, their current whereabouts remain uncertain following the conclusion of the exhibition.
The CT scan performed on the mummy of Michael Orlovits, Veronica’s first husband, in 2010 further contributed to our understanding of this family’s history and the conditions they faced. By examining their remains and conducting scientific analyses, researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of the past, offering insights into the lives and experiences of individuals from different eras and cultures.
The discovery of over 250 mummified bodies in the secret crypt beneath the Dominican Church in Vác, Hungary, offers a fascinating glimpse into the burial practices and preservation techniques of the 18th and 19th centuries. The individuals interred in the crypt, spanning from the 1700s to the 1800s, provide valuable insights into the lives and customs of the local community during that time period.
The crypt remained hidden and forgotten for many years until its accidental discovery during repair work at the church in 1994. The remarkably well-preserved condition of the mummies can be attributed to the unique environmental conditions within the crypt, including a continuous supply of dry and cool air. This natural preservation process allowed the bodies to retain much of their original features and provided researchers with an unprecedented opportunity to study them in detail.
The remarkable preservation of Veronica Skripetz and Johannes Orlovits, along with the detailed information obtained from the church records and coffin inscriptions, has allowed researchers to unravel the mysteries surrounding their lives and deaths.
Veronica Skripetz’s diagnosis of tuberculosis, confirmed through lung tissue analysis and visible scarring in her lungs, offers a poignant glimpse into the suffering she endured before her passing at the relatively young age of 38. Her emaciated condition suggests a prolonged illness, possibly exacerbated by the limited medical treatments available at the time.
The examination of Johannes Orlovits reveals a contrasting picture of a healthy and well-nourished infant, indicating that his death may have been sudden and unexpected. The absence of chronic illnesses or skeletal injuries suggests that he may have succumbed to an acute infection like dysentery, a common and often fatal ailment during that period.
These findings not only provide a deeper understanding of the health challenges faced by individuals in the 18th and 19th centuries but also offer a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through the meticulous study of these mummies and their historical context, researchers continue to uncover valuable insights into the complexities of the human experience across different time periods and cultures.
The discovery of Veronica Skripetz and Johannes Orlovits’ mummified remains in the church crypt has indeed offered valuable insights into the lives and health challenges of individuals during the 18th and 19th centuries. The remarkable preservation of the mummies, coupled with the detailed information from church records, provides a unique window into the past.
Veronica’s diagnosis of tuberculosis underscores the prevalence of infectious diseases during that period and sheds light on the suffering endured by individuals afflicted with such illnesses. Meanwhile, Johannes’ sudden death from possible dysentery highlights the vulnerability of children to acute infections and the limitations of medical knowledge and treatments at the time.
