Neuruppin, 12 July 2024
The mummified corpse of a nobleman has been resting in the church of Kampehl, a small village near Neustadt/Dosse (Ostprignitz-Ruppin), since the 18th century and attracted tourists for more than a hundred years now. A first comprehensive examination by an expert team was recently supervised by Prof. Andreas Winkelmann, professor of anatomy at the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB).
Prof. Albert Zink directs the Institute for Mummy Studies which is part of the Eurac Research Center in Bolzano (Italy). The renowned researcher played a leading role in the examination of “Ötzi the Iceman”. He and his team now took tissue samples from the mummy of Kalebuz for analysis and designed a specific construction to ensure safe transport of the fragile object from Kampehl to the Ruppin-Brandenburg university hospital (ukrb) and back.
Radiologist Dr. Reimund Parsche examined the corpse via computer tomography (CT). MHB medical student Maximilian Voss researched archive documents on this special aspect of Brandenburg’s history and found the spelling Kalebuz (instead of Kahlbutz) as corresponding to the entry in the local parish books. Also involved in the research were archeologist Dr. Bernhard Heeb (Staatliche Museen Berlin) and anthropologist Barbara Teßmann.
Historical data material on Kalebuz is incomplete
The coffin of Christian Friedrich von Kalebuz (1651 – 1702), squire of Kampehl, was opened in 1794, i.e. over 90 years after his death. Discovering his mummified remains, people remembered an oath he had to swear in order to be acquitted from a murder charge. According to legend, he said if he was a murderer then God would not let his body decompose. Local folklore has it that he was accused of having slain a shepherd from the neighboring village who denied him the right of “ius primae noctis” with his bride.
Countless tales have surrounded the Kalebuz mummy ever since. No name was found on the coffin, so that only the initials C.F. on the shroud served as identification. From today’s perspective this appears plausible since Kalebuz had two sons with the same initials who, however, did not die in Kampehl. Historical data are incomplete; no documents from the trial were preserved, which leaves oral tradition which is impossible to prove or refute. Research in historical documents appears to contradict allegations that Kalebuz was part of the Brandenburg-Prussian troops in the Battle of Fehrbellin against the Swedish in 1675 with a resulting knee injury that was still visible in the mummy.
Two unusual discoveries in the corpse
A most astonishing and unusual find from the CT was a lead pencil in the mummy’s chest cavity, which the team recovered endoscopically, i.e. without damaging the corpse. According to Prof. Winkelmann this is a used pencil of the Johann Faber brand name, probably from the years between 1900 and 1920. A major hole in the right chest wall may have been made by Rudolf Virchow (1821 - 1902) who took a tissue sample in 1895 but never seemed to follow that up. This defect may explain how the pencil landed inside the corpse. Prof. Winkelmann suspects a connection to practical jokes played on the mummy in the past. X-ray examination moreover revealed a rounded metal object in the mouth cavity of the corpse, possibly a burial gift like a coin or a charm. The mouth of the mummy is tightly closed so that a cut through tissue would be required to recover the object. The local parish council, so Prof. Winkelmann, is going to decide whether to disturb the corpse or let it keep this last secret.
Cause of death remains unclear
CT results and tissue analysis to determine time of death (radiocarbon dating) indicate a male of 50 to 60 years of age who died in the early 18th century. At least this does not disprove the identity of Kalebuz which has been challenged in the past. The knee injury mentioned in some tales does not exist. The skeleton is that of a male in relatively good health corresponding with his age.
No indications of artificial mummification were found. The corpse will probably have dried out fast and thus become mummified due to good ventilation in a double casket on four props. The CT examination also ruled out any removal of organs, as was the practice for mumification in Ancient Egypt, for example. Human and bacterial DNA was found in the tissue samples, says Prof. Winkelmann: “But unfortunately, human DNA was too degraded for further analysis. Historical tradition spoke of hemorrhage and pulmonary consumption (tuberculosis), so that researchers specifically tested for DNA of the tuberculosis pathogen. This was not sufficiently verified and not excluded, but the exact cause of death cannot be determined after more than 300 years.”
The team of researchers gives thanks to the local parish for their cooperation and to the sponsors of the project, in particular: foundation of the savings bank Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Berliner Gesellschaft für Anthropologie, Ethnologie und Urgeschichte, and Motorsportclub Kalebuz e.V.
Scientific contact
Prof. Andreas Winkelmann
Director, Institute of Anatomy
Phone: +49 3391 3914510
E-Mail: andreas.winkelmann@mhb-fontane.de
