Learning from human remains: Seianti's skeleton - for iPad/Mac/PC

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.

  • 1 minute 6 seconds
    Learning from human remains: Seianti’s skeleton
    An audio introduction to this album.
    7 October 2009, 12:44 am
  • Transcript -- Learning from human remains: Seianti’s skeleton
    Transcript -- An audio introduction to this album.
    7 October 2009, 12:44 am
  • 6 minutes 4 seconds
    The sarcophagus
    An introduction to the most complete Etruscan skeleton in existence.
    7 October 2009, 12:43 am
  • Transcript -- The sarcophagus
    Transcript -- An introduction to the most complete Etruscan skeleton in existence.
    7 October 2009, 12:43 am
  • 6 minutes 54 seconds
    Who was Seianti?
    Seianti’s clothing and jewellery give us many clues about her identity.
    7 October 2009, 12:42 am
  • Transcript -- Who was Seianti?
    Transcript -- Seianti’s clothing and jewellery give us many clues about her identity.
    7 October 2009, 12:42 am
  • 9 minutes 54 seconds
    Seianti’s skeleton
    A pathology expert builds up a fascinating picture of Seianti’s health, lifestyle, and death.
    7 October 2009, 12:41 am
  • Transcript -- Seianti’s skeleton
    Transcript -- A pathology expert builds up a fascinating picture of Seianti’s health, lifestyle, and death.
    7 October 2009, 12:41 am
  • 8 minutes 50 seconds
    Reconstructing Seianti
    A forensic-medical artist and an archaeologist reconstruct Seianti’s face using anatomical science.
    7 October 2009, 12:40 am
  • Transcript -- Reconstructing Seianti
    Transcript -- A forensic-medical artist and an archaeologist reconstruct Seianti’s face using anatomical science.
    7 October 2009, 12:40 am
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