The preserved body of the "air-dried chaplain" rests in his coffin inside the crypt of St. Thomas Church in Blasenstein, Austria. CTV
A team of scientists from Austria, Germany, and Poland may have finally solved the puzzle of a centuries-old mummy. This body, known as the “Air-Dried Chaplain,” has been lying in a church crypt in northern Austria. For over 200 years, people wondered how it stayed in such good shape. Many believed the chaplain’s body had healing powers.
A Deep Look at the Mummy
The new research, shared in May 2025, gave the most complete look at the mummy ever. The team did a full autopsy, CT scan, and many lab tests. These helped them figure out who the chaplain really was and how he died.
The results pointed to Franz Xaver Sidler von Rosenegg. He was born in 1709 and died in 1746. He came from a wealthy family and worked as a vicar. Records say he passed away at just 37. The researchers matched his age, diet, and lifestyle to the body.
How Did He Die?
Past scans found a small capsule inside his body, which some thought might be poison. But the study found a better explanation: tuberculosis. Sidler’s lungs were inflamed and had hardened areas. These are clear signs of TB, a deadly disease back then. Marks around his waist also showed he had lost a lot of weight before he died. That too matches late-stage tuberculosis. Coal particles in his throat and worn-down teeth suggest he may have smoked a pipe.
The study says he likely died from bleeding in the lungs caused by the infection.
Strange Things Inside the Body
One of the most surprising findings was what the researchers discovered inside his abdomen. Previous X-rays didn’t show it, but this study found it filled with strange materials. These included wood chips, twigs, lots of cloth—some of it fancy embroidered linen and silk—and even high levels of zinc.
Zinc chloride helps kill germs and might have dried his body from inside. The mixture of wood and fabric likely soaked up fluids as the body broke down. This clever packing could also explain why his body never collapsed.
A Unique Way of Embalming
What made the case even more special was how they packed the body. Most embalming involves cutting open the body. But in this case, it seems the materials were placed rectally. The scientists said they had never seen this method used before.
This may have kept the mummy looking so lifelike. It’s possible people moved his body from the cemetery to the crypt and saw how perfect it looked. That might be how stories of healing miracles began.
From Forgotten Vicar to Local Legend
After his death, Sidler’s body drew attention. By the 1800s, people visited it like a tourist site. His perfect condition amazed scientists and locals alike. But until this study, no one could say exactly how he stayed that way.
