In the ruins of a medieval convent in the French city of Rennes, archaeologists discovered five heart-shaped urns made of lead, each containing an embalmed human heart.
Now, roughly four centuries after they were buried, researchers have used modern science to study these old hearts. It turns out three of them bore tell-tale signs of a heart disease very common today.
"Every heart was different and revealed its share of surprises," anthropologist Rozenn Colleter of the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research said on Wednesday.
"Four of these hearts are very well preserved. It is very rare in archaeology to work on organic materials. The prospects are very exciting."
One heart appeared healthy, with no evidence of disease. Three others showed indications of disease, atherosclerosis, with plaque in the coronary arteries. The fifth was poorly preserved.
"Only one heart belonged to a women, and was totally degraded, permitting no study," said radiologist Dr. Fatima-Zohra Mokrane of Rangueil Hospital at the University Hospital of Toulouse.
One of hearts belonged to a nobleman identified by an inscription on the urn as Toussaint Perrien, Knight of Brefeillac, who died in 1649.
His heart had been removed upon his death and was later buried with his wife, Louise de Quengo, Lady of Brefeillac, who died in 1656. Her wonderfully preserved body was found in a coffin at the site, still wearing a cape, wool dress, bonnet and leather shoes with cork soles.
The earliest of the urns was dated 1584. The latest was dated 1655.
Mokrane said an important aspect of the study was the finding that people hundreds of years ago had atherosclerosis.
It is a disease in which plaque made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances builds up inside the arteries. Plaque hardens over time and narrows the arteries. Atherosclerosis can trigger heart attacks and strokes.
"Atherosclerosis is not only a recent pathology, because it was found in different hearts studied," Mokrane said.
The researchers cleaned each of the hearts, removed the embalming material and examined them with MRI imaging, CT scans and other methods.
Archaeologists excavated the Jacobins convent in Rennes from 2011 to 2013. It was constructed in 1369 and became an important pilgrimage and burial site from the 15th to 17th centuries. About 800 graves were found, Colleter said.
The research was presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.
(Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Mummy Mysteries Revealed In CT Scans
Mummy of Tamut(01 of21)
Open Image ModalThe Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC. Scientists at the British Museum used CT scans and volume graphics software to go beneath the bandages, revealing the skin, bones, internal organs, and in one case a brain-scooping rod left inside a skull by embalmers. (credit:Associated Press)
Mummy of Tamut(02 of21)
Open Image ModalSarcophagus of a priestess named Tayesmutengebtiu, also called Tamut. Found in Thebes, 22nd Dynasty (c. 900 BC). (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy CT Scan(03 of21)
Open Image ModalA mummy undergoing a CT scan at the Royal Brompton Hospital. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Tamut(04 of21)
Open Image ModalCT scan 3D visualization of the mummified remains of Tayesmutengebtiu, also called Tamut, showing the wrappings. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Tamut(05 of21)
Open Image ModalCT scan 3D visualization of Tamut's mummified remains, showing a section through the sarcophagus and wrappings. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Tamut(06 of21)
Open Image ModalCT scan 3D visualization of Tamut's mummified remains, showing her body within the sarcophagus. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Tamut(07 of21)
Open Image ModalCT scan 3D visualization of Tamut's mummified remains, showing her skeleton and amulets. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Tamut(08 of21)
Open Image ModalCT scan of Tamut's feet reveals metal covers on her toenails and a large amulet of the winged scarab beetle Khepri. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Karnak(09 of21)
Open Image ModalThe temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, where Tamut probably served as a priestess. (credit:Vandenbeusch)
Karnak(10 of21)
Open Image ModalThe temple of Amun-Re at Karnak. (credit:Vandenbeusch)
Mummy of Tamut(11 of21)
Open Image ModalMembers of the media stand around the Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC, during a press conference at the British Museum in London, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (credit:Associated Press)
Mummy of Tamut(12 of21)
Open Image ModalMembers of the media stand around the Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC, during a press conference at the British Museum in London, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (credit:Associated Press)
Mummy of Tamut(13 of21)
Open Image ModalThe Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC, is shown during a press conference at the British Museum in London, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (credit:Associated Press)
Mummy of Tamut(14 of21)
Open Image ModalThe Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC, is shown during a press conference at the British Museum in London, Wednesday April 9, 2014. (credit:Associated Press)
Mummy of Adult Male(15 of21)
Open Image ModalMummy of an adult male (aged 35 to older, name unknown), wrapped in linen bandages. Found at Thebes, 26th dynasty (c. 600 BC). (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Adult Man(16 of21)
Open Image ModalThe CT scan of the skull of the mummy of an adult man (name unknown). The scan shows the remains of the brain (colored in blue) and evidence of a tool that was left in the skull as a mistake during the mummification process (in green). (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Adult Man(17 of21)
Open Image ModalThe CT scan of the skull of the mummy of an adult man (name unknown). The scan shows considerable evidence of dental abbcesses and the loss of several teeth. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Adult Male(18 of21)
Open Image ModalThe CT scan of the mummy of an adult male (name unknown), showing his mummified remains. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Adult Male(19 of21)
Open Image ModalThe CT scan of the mummy of an adult male (name unknown), showing his skeleton. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Mummy of Adult Male(20 of21)
Open Image ModalThe CT scan of the mummy of an adult male (name unknown), showing the surface of the wrappings. (credit:Trustees of the British Museum)
Theban Necropolis(21 of21)
Open Image ModalThe Theban necropolis where the mummy of an adult male was discovered. (credit:Vandenbeusch )
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