Unraveling the Ancient Mediterranean Climate through Mummies.
Swiss scientists are using wooden artifacts attached to Roman-era mummies to reconstruct the climate of the ancient Mediterranean. The wooden labels, which were used to identify the deceased, contain growth rings that provide information about the climate at the time. By analyzing the ring sequences of over 300 labels, the researchers have identified overlaps that provide an initial outline of what the climate used to be like in the eastern Mediterranean. The next step will be to locate these events in history and pinpoint the exact date using radiocarbon dating.