Preservation of a corpse in a zinc coffin - autopsy 47 years postmortem

The presented case focuses on the preservation of a body in a zinc coffin. During preparation of new graves at a cemetery a very well-preserved body was found. Due to the very good preservation of the body, it was first assumed that the man had recently been buried, perhaps even secretly, since the cemetery was no longer used for burials since years. However, the grave was identified, and the man had died about 47 years ago in a traffic accident in a neighboring country. He was buried in a zinc coffin. Experiences with bodies in zinc coffins are rare, and the possible mechanisms of the preservation will be discussed.