Human Interest

Australia seeks to clarify ‘Somerton Man’ mystery 70 years on

Sydney, Australia, May 19 (EFE).- Australian authorities began Wednesday the exhumation of the remains of a person known as “Man from Somerton” to solve the mystery of his identity and provenance 70 years after his death through current DNA techniques.

The lifeless body of the “Somerton Man” was found Dec. 1, 1948 on Somerton Beach in Adelaide and his mysterious identity has attracted hundreds of people over the years and generated numerous theories.

When he was found, the deceased was dressed in a suit and tie, but did not carry any identification, although he did carry a briefcase with articles of clothing without labels and several cryptic writings, a torn piece of paper with the words “it is finished” written in Farsi.

Authorities at the time filed the death as an “unsolved case” and buried the body in the Adelaide Cemetery under a tombstone with the identification: “unknown person.”

Bulldozers began Wednesday morning to slowly remove the earth and mud from the tomb where the mortal remains of the mysterious man rest.

Hours later, police confirmed they had found a human skeleton next to the label that identifies the deceased as an “unknown person,” public channel ABC reported.

Authorities hope to obtain enough DNA samples from the corpse to be able to reconstruct the profile of the deceased, and try to identify him or his origins.

In April, South Australian Attorney General Vickie Chapman approved the exhumation of the remains on the grounds that the case had generated “strong public interest.”

“It’s an enduring mystery, but I think we can finally uncover some answers, thanks to the combined experience of the South Australian Police and forensic team,” Chapman said.

Local authorities avoided specifying a date to conclude the new investigation’s results. EFE

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