Fetus found in Swedish bishop’s 17th century coffin

When researchers at Sweden's Lund University put the mummified 17th century corpse of Bishop Peder Winstrup through a CT scan for the first time, they found more than they had bargained for.

They discovered that the corpse was incredibly well-preserved, with all internal organs in place, reports Cbc.ca.

Also, tucked under the feet, there was a five-to-six-month-old human fetus, which was buried along with the bishop in 1679.

"Is there any relationship between the bishop and the child?" wonders Per Karsten, director of the Historical Museum at Lund University, with As It Happens co-host Carol Off. "Or, is it the case that one of the members of this bishop's staff deliberately hid the child away while making preparations for the bishop's funeral? Both could be true."

Karsten and his team will be conducting DNA tests on both Windstrup and the fetus in September to see if there's any relation.

However, Karsten believes that the fetus was probably placed there surreptitiously, in order to ensure the fetus had a proper Christian burial.

"A fetus could never be baptized... the only way of securing the child's spiritual future was to hide it away in coffins, or in cemeteries, or church walls for instance," he says.