Researchers from Uppsala University on Wednesday opened a gilded box containing the skull and bones of Swedish King Erik IX, who became a national saint after he was murdered in 1160.
The researchers also removed the king’s burial crown, which is the oldest known royal crown in Sweden, to display it to the public for the first time.
Knowledge about King Erik IX is sparse and Uppsala University said it hopes DNA tests and X-ray scans of the bones can reveal more about his origins. Some sources suggest his father may have been English, and churches in the region did have contacts with England at that time.
Researchers also hope to learn more about the king’s diet and whether he had any diseases.
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