Scientists Study Dmitry Donskoy's Remains Without Removing Them

Scientists studied the remains of Dmitry Donskoy using non-destructive methods without removing them from the sarcophagus in the Archangel Cathedral, confirming his age, physical build, and warrior status while preserving the burial for future research.

Consensus

• Scientists used non-destructive methods to study the remains of Dmitry Donskoy.
• The remains were not removed from the sarcophagus.
• The study confirmed the man was 35–45 years old, 175–177 cm tall, with a large build and broad shoulders.
• Evidence of physical strain on the chest and arms, early-stage knee osteoarthritis, and a healed injury above the eye were found.
• No life-threatening injuries or signs of severe chronic illness were detected.
• The findings align with historical records about Dmitry Donskoy’s age at death (1389).
• The remains are preserved in good condition, except for the absence of the left heel bone.
• The research team included specialists from the Institute of Archaeology RAS and the Museums of the Moscow Kremlin.
• The study aims to preserve the burial for future generations of archaeologists.
• The sarcophagus was discovered during restoration work in the Archangel Cathedral.

Points of divergence

• The cause of death could not be determined from visual examination of bones. — fontanka
• Vladimir Medinsky stated that there were signs of a severe injury on the remains. — vesti
• The research team plans to reconstruct the burial ritual and gain more accurate knowledge about 14th-century Muscovite culture. — vm
• The sarcophagus of Dmitry Donskoy was confirmed as authentic through anthropological study. — vesti
• The sarcophagus has two transverse cracks on its lid. — vm
• The researchers ruled out plague as the cause of death due to mismatched symptoms. — fontanka

Coverage (3 sources)

• Scientists revealed details of the method for studying the remains of Dmitry Donskoy — Фонтанка
• It has become known why archaeologists did not extract the remains of Don from the sarcophagus — Вести
• RAN: The remains of Dmitry Donskoy will be left in a sarcophagus for future researchers — Вечерняя Москва

Key entities

• Dmitry Donskoy
• RAS
• Institute of Archaeology
• Nikolai Makarov
• Moscow
• Russian Academy of Sciences
• Archangel Cathedral

More on Dmitry Donskoy

• Relics of Dmitry Donskoy Found in Kremlin Cathedral
• Relics of Dmitry Donskoy to be displayed in Moscow

More on Nikolai Makarov

• DNA Sample Taken from Dmitry Donskoy's Relics
• Putin Views Relics of Dmitry Donskoy After Restoration Discovery
• Head injury found on Dmitry Donskoy's skull