Latest news with #Schinderhannes
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
After 200 Years, Scientists Identified the Skeleton of a Legendary Outlaw. The Truth Was There All Along.
Researchers proved that a misidentified skeleton from the 19th century actually belongs to infamous outlaw Johannes Bückler, also known as Schinderhannes. Genealogical research found a living descendant of Schinderhannes, and researchers used his mitogenome to confirm the identity of the skeletal remains. The skeleton of Schwarzer Jonas, the man who Schinderhannes' skeleton was originally thought to belong to, is now lost to time. Notorious for blackmail, extortion, and even murder, Johannes Bückler—more commonly known as Schinderhannes—was one of the most infamous criminals in all of Germany during the late 18th century, and was responsible for more than 200 crimes during his reign of terror. However, his life of crime came to a halt in 1802 when he was arrested in Mainz (which, at the time, belonged to France). Just over a year later, in 1803, Schinderhannes and 19 other criminals—including a man who he schemed with, another criminal nicknamed Schwarzer Jonas (Black Jonas)—were sentenced to death. The following day, the delinquents were executed by guillotine in front of 30,000 onlookers. However, Schinderhannes' popularity didn't end when he died. Many of the bodies were eventually sent off for scientific research, and the skeletons of Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas were given to the Heidelberg University anatomy department a couple of years after their execution. But, at some point during the early 19th century, the two skeletons were accidentally mixed up and misidentified—a snafu that has persisted for over 200 years. Now, a new study analyzing the sets of bones is correcting the record, and the skeleton long assumed to be the remains of Schwarzer Jonas may actually belong to Schinderhannes. Published in Forensic Science International, the team behind the study was composed of interdisciplinary experts from around the world. Researchers used a variety of methods to piece together the identities of the skeletal remains, labeling them Ind1_SJ (for Schwarzer Jonas) and Ind2_SH (for Schinderhannes). Most impressively, isotopic analysis revealed Ind1_SJ spent early childhood in a region characterized by geologically old sediments. According to the study, these were common in places like Taunus and Hunsrück (both mountain ranges in Germany), which historical evidence suggests Schinderhannes was both born in and travelled through. The study also matched mitochondrial DNA from the same specimen to a maternal descendant of Schinderhannes. According to the paper, a great-great-grandnephew volunteered a cheek swab, and his mitogenome (DNA found within mitochondria) both matched the profile of Ind1_SJ and was distinctly different from the other subject. Radiological analysis also proved to be significant, aligning closely with historical records of events. Researchers found evidence of the thickening of the ulna (arm) and the tibia (lower leg) in the remains of Ind1_SJ. Historical sources claim that Jonas once broke Schinderhannes arm during a heated argument, and sources also confirm that Schinderhannes injured (possibly even fractured)his leg when jumping out of a tower to escape arrest. The body, as they say, keeps the score. 'All of these results, coupled with a careful analysis of historical documents, pointed to a possible confusion of the two skeletons,' Sara Doll—curator at the Anatomical Collection of Heidelberg University—said in a translated press release. The study also helped disprove some historical inaccuracies. According to the paper, there are no reliable contemporary descriptions or artworks of Schinderhannes, as most renderings were done after his death. Genetic analyses suggest the outlaw had either brown or black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin, painting a better picture of what he would have looked like. Schinderhannes' skeleton has since been removed from the Anatomical Collection of Heidelberg University for conservation purposes, but spectators can still view a replica. Even in death, the notorious criminal spent more then 200 years eschewing his true identity. But it seems that he's finally met his match in modern genetic science. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
26-03-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Remains of legendary German outlaw on display for 220 years. It was the wrong body
A centuries-old museum mix-up has been revealed in Germany after modern technology helped identify human remains — and prove it was the wrong body. Johannes Bückler, known by the name 'Schinderhannes,' was a legendary outlaw from the late 18th century, and his body was thought to be displayed in an exhibit at the Anatomical Collection of Heidelberg University, researchers said in a study published March 22 in the peer-reviewed journal Forensic Science International, Genetics. Now, a genetic investigation of his body shows it's not Bückler at all. At least 211 crimes were attributed to Bückler over the course of his life, ranging in severity from theft and robbery to extortion and murder, according to the study. Bückler met fellow professional criminal Christian Reinhard, known by the name 'Schwarzer Jonas,' or 'Black Jonas,' in 1799 when the two teamed up to hit grocer's wagons and commit a slew of other burglaries, extortions and robberies, researchers said. Two facts of Schinderhannes' history would later become essential to his body's future. First, in an argument between Black Jonas and Schinderhannes, Jonas is reported to have broken Schinderhannes' arm. Second, during a short stint in custody in a German tower, Schinderhannes escaped by jumping from a second story and injuring his leg, according to the study. A few years after they met, Schinderhannes and Black Jonas were apprehended with a group of criminals in Mainz, which fell under the jurisdiction of France at the time, researchers said, and the two bandits were sentenced to death. On Nov. 21, 1803, Schinderhannes and Black Jonas were executed by guillotine, and their bodies were handed off to the first chair for Anatomy at Heidelberg University, researchers said. Their bodies would stay there for the next 220 years, or so museum officials thought. When researchers conducted an isotopic analysis — a kind of testing that can identify a place where someone spent their childhood and later years based on elements found in their environment — they found that they didn't match the historical records, according to a March 24 news release from Heidelberg University. Chemical analysis of the bones and radiological imaging then looked at the age, gender and medical history of the remains, researchers said, again suggesting the bones did not belong to who they claimed. Then, the genetic information of a fifth-generation descendant of Schinderhannes was compared with the bones thought to belong to the outlaw, and it seemed unlikely they came from the same family. The results were a match for the bones labeled 'Black Jonas,' the university said. But who is the other skeleton? Sometime between when their heads were separated from their bodies, Schinderhannes and Black Jonas were mixed up, the museum said, resulting in their remains being misidentified for centuries. Schinderhannes was still there in the museum, just under the wrong name. Black Jonas is now considered missing. 'This study resolves a long-standing scientific and public debate regarding the potential mismatching of the skulls and postcranial skeletons, and whether none of the remains belonged to Schinderhannes,' according to the study. 'After 200 years, the remains of the infamous outlaw Schinderhannes have been definitively identified, while the identity of the second skeleton remains unknown.' The bones have been removed from the museum exhibit for conservation purposes, staff said, but the mystery of the missing Black Jonas skeleton remains ongoing. Heidelberg is in southwestern Germany, near the eastern border of France. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from Heidelberg University.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Famed German robber's skeleton identified after 220-year-long mix-up
A mixture of history, archeology, and several other scientific disciplines, has led scientists to positively identify the remains of Schinderhannes, a legendary German criminal, after a 220-year-old skeletal mix-up. However, the bones of his partner in crime, Schwarzer Jonas remain on the lam. The findings are detailed in a study published March 22 in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. Schinderhannes is a nickname for Johannes Bückler, a criminal who was born sometime in 1779 in Germany, to a family of executioners and slaughterers. He was linked to at least 211 crimes, mostly theft, extortion, and robbery, but potentially murder as well. 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, extortions, and robberies along with some other accomplices in loose alliances. In 1802, the pair was arrested in Mainz–now in Germany, then part of France–alongside several other criminals. During the initial investigation, Schinderhannes named more than 100 individuals allegedly connected to his criminal activities. After a nearly month-long trial, Schinderhannes, Schwarzer Jonas, and 18 others were convicted. They were executed by guillotine on November 21, 1803, in front of 30,000 curious onlookers and their remains were collected. In 1805, Jacob Fidelis Ackermann, the first chairholder of anatomy at the University of Heidelberg, bought the two skeletons that he believed belonged to Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas. However, the collection numbers were subsequently mixed-up at the beginning of the 19th century and the skeletons were misattributed. In this new study, an international team of researchers combined several analytical methods to 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 pertaining to injuries as reference. During a heated argument, Jonas is believed to have broken Schinderhannes' arm. Additionally, Schinderhannes injured one of his legs when jumping 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 allowed them to get an idea where both individuals spent their childhood and later years and the Hunsrück area in Germany is a possibility. The chemical analyses of the bones and radiological imaging techniques also induced the presumed age, sex, and possible illnesses of the individuals. 'All these results, coupled with a careful analysis of historical documents, pointed to a possible mix-up of the two skeletons,' Sara Doll, a study co-author, an anatomy 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 determine parentage. Comparison with a fifth generation living descendant of Schinderhannes also indicated that the skeleton attributed to Schwarzer Jonas was likely Schinderhannes. [ Related: Medieval toilet helps uncover lost home of the England's last Anglo-Saxon King. ] Additionally, the team used genetic data to reconstruct Schinderhannes' hair, skin, and eye color. There are only a few, sometimes contradictory, 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 rather pale skin,' Walther Parson, a study co-author and geneticist from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria explained. The skeleton of Schwarzer Jonas has yet to be identified, and the mystery of who is behind it 'remains exciting,' according to Doll. It could be sitting in a museum somewhere or be completely lost to time. 'It is possible that it was stolen or borrowed in the belief that it was the skeleton of Schinderhannes' and was never returned? Ironically, this mix-up could ultimately have led to our still being in possession of the real skeleton of Schinderhannes' today,' said Doll. The real skeleton of Schinderhannes has been removed from the Anatomical Collection. for conservation reasons. Visitors can see an artist's replica of the skeleton and a model of Schinderhannes himself.
