The sister of Cleopatra is still unaccounted for.
An interdisciplinary research team led by anthropologist Gerhard Weber from the University of Vienna, together with experts from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has analysed a skull that was found in the ruins of Ephesos (Turkey) in 1929. It was long speculated that it could be the remains of Arsinoë IV, the sister of the famous Cleopatra. However, the latest anthropological analyses show that the remains are those of a boy between the ages of 11 and 14 who suffered from pathological developmental disorders. His genes point to an origin in Italy or Sardinia. The results are currently being published in Scientific Reports.
In 1929, Austrian archaeologist Josef Keil and his team unearthed a sarcophagus brimming with water amid the ruins of the once grand "Octagon," a remarkable structure located on the main thoroughfare of Ephesos (Turkey). While no significant burial artifacts were uncovered, a complete skeleton was found within. Keil decided to take only the skull with him before sealing the tomb on the notable "Curetes Street" (Kuretenstraße). Following his preliminary examination in Greifswald (Germany), he speculated that the remains belonged to "a highly esteemed individual," likely a 20-year-old female. Although Keil lacked concrete evidence, he transported the skull to Vienna when he accepted a new position at the University of Vienna. In 1953, Josef Weninger, who led the Institute of Anthropology at the University of Vienna, published an article complete with photographs and measurements. He also reached the conclusion that the skull from the "Heroon" (Heroengrab), as noted on a faded document accompanying the discovery, belonged to a young woman of a "refined, specialized type," suggesting a connection to the elite aristocracy of ancient times.
During subsequent excavations in 1982, the remaining parts of the skeleton were discovered in Ephesos, not within the sarcophagus, but rather in a niche located in an antechamber adjacent to the burial chamber. This discovery, along with the potential architectural influence of the Octagon from the Egyptian "Pharos of Alexandria" and the historical context of Arsinoë IV's murder in Ephesos around 41 BCE at the behest of Mark Antony, Cleopatra's lover, led to a hypothesis in 1990. It was proposed that Arsinoë IV might have been laid to rest in this splendid tomb in Ephesos. Since that time, a plethora of reports and publications have emerged regarding this intriguing speculation.
Contemporary anthropology and scientific archaeology have increasingly adopted CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) methodologies, enhancing their research techniques. These methods involve systematic documentation, meticulous evidence collection, and advanced analytical techniques to uncover past human behaviors and cultural practices. By applying forensic principles, anthropologists and archaeologists can better interpret artifacts, skeletal remains, and site contexts, leading to more accurate reconstructions of historical events and lifestyles. This interdisciplinary approach not only improves the rigor of archaeological investigations but also fosters a deeper understanding of human history through a scientific lens.
In recent years, the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Vienna has seen significant growth and now employs nearly all contemporary techniques within the field. Collaborating with geneticists, dating e
