Learning from human remains: Seianti's skeleton - for iPod/iPhone: Recent Episodes

The Open University

How much can we learn from an entombed skeleton? This album introduces Seianti Hanunia Tlesnasa, an Etruscan noblewoman whose remains, along with her magnificent painted sarcophagus and life-size model, provide us with an unequalled insight a Roman life around 150 BC. The Etruscans were the original inhabitants of Italy before the Romans, and Seianti’s sarcophagus and skeleton reveal a huge amount about their customs and society, as well as her own health, lifestyle and status. Medical artists and forensic scientists help complete the picture, by reconstructing her face, using anatomical science. This material forms part of The Open University course A219 Exploring the classical world.

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An audio introduction to this album.

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Transcript -- An audio introduction to this album.

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An introduction to the most complete Etruscan skeleton in existence.

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Transcript -- An introduction to the most complete Etruscan skeleton in existence.

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Seianti’s clothing and jewellery give us many clues about her identity.

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Transcript -- Seianti’s clothing and jewellery give us many clues about her identity.

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A pathology expert builds up a fascinating picture of Seianti’s health, lifestyle, and death.

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Transcript -- A pathology expert builds up a fascinating picture of Seianti’s health, lifestyle, and death.

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A forensic-medical artist and an archaeologist reconstruct Seianti’s face using anatomical science.

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Transcript -- A forensic-medical artist and an archaeologist reconstruct Seianti’s face using anatomical science.