A mix of history, archeology and various other scientific disciplines has led scientists to positively identify the remains of Schinderhannes, a legendary German criminal, after a 220-year-old skelet mix. The bones of his partner in crime, however, Schwarzer Jonas stay on the Lamb. The findings are detailed in one Study published on March 22 in the magazine Forensic Science International: Genetics.
The crimes of Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas
Hindsmannes is a nickname for Johannes Bückler, a criminal who was born somewhere in 1779 in Germany, from a Van Beulen and butchers family. He was linked to at least 211 crimes, usually theft, extortion and theft, but also possible murder.
In 1799, Schinderhannes met Christian Reinhard – Aka Schwarzer Jonas or Black Jonas. Schwarzer Jonas was another famous professional criminal who was born around 1774. Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas eventually joined forces to commit crimes together, including burglaries, extortion and robberies together with a few other accomplices in individual alliances.
In 1802 the couple was arrested in Mainz – now in Germany and then part of France – on the other side of various other criminals. During the first investigation, Schindhannes mentioned more than 100 people who are reportedly connected to his criminal activities. After a test of almost month, Schinderhannes, Schwarzer Jonas and 18 others were convicted. They were Performed by Guillotine on November 21, 1803For 30,000 curious spectators and their remains were collected.
In 1805, Jacob Fidelis Ackermann, the first chairman of the anatomy at the University of Heidelberg, bought the two skelets that he believed they belonged to Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas. The Collection numbers were then mixed interchangeably The skeletons were incorrectly attributed at the beginning of the 19th century.
Broken arms and legs
Herein New studyAn international team of researchers combined various analytical methods for
Show that the supposed skeleton of Schwarzer Jonas clearly belonged to Schinderhannes and that the alleged skeleton of Schinderhannes is not that of Schwarzer Jonas.
First they used a few historical documents with regard to injuries as a reference. During a heated argument, it is supposed to have broken the Arm of Schinderhannes. In addition, shind people one of his legs injured When he jumps from the second floor of a tower in Simmern, Germany after he was arrested. Some historical sources even report the leg fracture.
They then turned to the more hard science and used isotope analysis to analyze the different types of atoms of the same chemical element. The analysis enabled them to get an idea in which both individuals spent their youth and later years and The Hunsrück area in Germany is a possibility.
The chemical analyzes of bones and radiological imaging techniques also induced the supposed age, gender and possible diseases of the individuals.
“All these results, in combination with a careful analysis of historical documents, pointed to a possible mix of the two skeletons,” Sara Doll, co-author of the study, an anatomyist dissection specialist at Heidelberg University and curator of the anatomical collection, said in a translated statement.
An analysis of the mitochondrial DNA confirmed this suspicion of a two-centuries-long mix-up. This important genetic information is only passed on to descendants via the mother’s line and helps to determine parenthood. Comparison with a Fifth generation Living descendant of Schinderhannes Also indicated that the skeleton that was attributed to Schwarzer Jonas was probably hiding.
[ Related: Medieval toilet helps uncover lost home of the England’s last Anglo-Saxon King. ]
In addition, the team used genetic data to Reconstruct the hair, skin and eye color of Schinderhannes. There are only a few, sometimes conflicting, contemporary descriptions of his appearance and the surviving paintings or engravings made after his death are based on artistic license.
“The data suggests that Schinderhannes had brown eyes, dark hair and a fairly pale skin,” Walther Parson, co-author and geneticist of the study of the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria explained.
Lost a skeleton of the time
Schwarzer Jonas’s skeleton still has to be identified, and the mystery of those who are behind it “remains exciting”, Doll. It can be somewhere in a museum or be completely lost for the time.
“It is possible that it was stolen or borrowed in the conviction that it was the skeleton of Schinderhannes and was never returned? Ironically, this mix could eventually have leaded to the fact that we were still in possession of the real skeleton of Schindhannes’ today,” Doll said.
The real skeleton of Schinderhannes has been removed from the anatomical collection.
For maintenance reasons. Visitors can see the replica of an artist of the skeleton and a model from Schinderhannes himself.
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