Study on the Ultrastructure and Preservation of 16th-Century Mummy Hair Discovered in Paju

January 2005

이귀영, 장병수

hair ultrastructure cuticle cortex medulla macrofibrils melanin granules calcium-containing surface coat

TLDR The 16th-century mummy's hair was well-preserved due to a calcium coating.

The study examined the ultrastructure and preservation of hair from a 16th-century female mummy discovered in Paju in 2002. Using electron microscopy, researchers found the hair to be in excellent condition, with intact cuticle, cortex, and medulla structures. The cuticle layer consisted of 6 to 7 cells, and the cortex contained macrofibrils and melanin granules. The preservation of the hair over 440 years was attributed to a calcium-containing surface coat, which likely prevented moisture and microbial infiltration.

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