Ep 2. Mummified Child

In episode 2 of History Cold Case season 1, titled "Mummified Child," we follow the team of experts as they investigate the mystery surrounding a mummified body of a young child found inside a church. The body, dating back to the 17th century, was discovered by builders working on the renovation of the church in North Yorkshire, England.

The team starts their investigation by examining the body in detail, which immediately presents a number of questions. Firstly, the child appears to have been mummified naturally, without any embalming or preservation techniques used. Secondly, there is evidence of some sort of foul play, as the child's limbs have been bound and there are injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. The team must work out whether the injuries were sustained before or after death.

The first challenge in identifying the child is determining its age and gender. The body is extremely small, which makes it difficult to determine whether it is a boy or a girl. Using X-rays and CT scans, the team is able to determine that the child was around two years old at the time of death. They also find evidence of malnutrition, which suggests that the child was not well cared for during life.

To try and determine the identity of the child, the team turns to historical records. They discover that the church where the body was found was once a prominent Catholic center, and that it was used to secretly educate Catholic children during a time when their faith was persecuted in England. The team suspects that the child may have been one of these children, but they need more evidence to support this theory.

One clue comes in the form of a small lead heart found with the body. The heart is inscribed with the words "C. W. 1674." The team realizes that this could be a clue to the identity of the child's parents, and they start to search through baptismal records from around that time. Eventually, they find a record of a child named Catherine Ward baptized at the church in 1674. This leads them to investigate the Ward family further, to determine if they were involved in the Catholic resistance.

The team also examines the clothing found on the child, which is relatively well-preserved despite its age. They find that the clothing is consistent with what a child of that age from a wealthy family would wear. This further supports the theory that the child may have been from a prominent Catholic family.

As the investigation continues, the team also looks into the cause of death. They find that the child suffered from rickets, a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency. This would have caused the child great pain and difficulty moving around. It is possible that the child was bound to its bed to prevent it from moving around and exacerbating the condition. However, it is still unclear whether the child died from natural causes or was subjected to some sort of violence.

Throughout the investigation, the team is constantly uncovering new pieces of evidence that help to paint a picture of who the child was and how they died. There are many twists and turns, and at times it seems as if they will never be able to solve the case. However, the team perseveres, and in the end, they are able to uncover the truth about this mysterious mummified child.

Overall, episode 2 of History Cold Case season 1 is a fascinating look into the world of forensic archaeology and the lengths that experts will go to uncover the truth about the past. It is a gripping and emotional journey, filled with twists and turns that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Whether you are a fan of true crime or just enjoy learning about history, this episode is definitely worth a watch.