The exhibition, entitled ?Secrets, Fates, Mummies: Stories from the Domincan?s crypt of Vác? presents some of the 265 naturally mummified individuals which were discovered during a renovation of the Dominican church in Vác in 1994. The bodies were exhumed for cultural and scientific research by the staff of the Ignác Tragor Museum of Vác with the permission of the Episcopate of Vác. The Anthropology Department of the Natural History Museum then took over the care of the bodies, building a special storage unit for them with controlled ventilation, temperature and humidity.
The bodies present a valuable look at funerary customs in the 18th century and have also served to further medical knowledge of people during the period. After their exhumation, the bodies were examined by anthropologists, pathologists, radiologists, microbiologists and forensic scientists. They found most of the deceased were infected with tuberculosis, but some had never developed the disease.
The exhibit also includes a multimedia installation which offers visitors a unique look at everyday life in Hungary in the 18th century.
The exhibition is open from April 8 to November 30.
The Natural History Museum is open every day of the week, except for Tuesday, from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
The museum is located at Ludovika tér 2-6, in Budapest?s District VIII, near the Klinikák metro station along the blue line.
Source: Múlt-kor/Natural History Museum
