The role of paleopathological symptoms in identification of historical figures: the case study of remains of Solovetsky monastery archimandrites

In 2013-2014 remains from four vaults located in the subterranean roomof the Holy Trinity Zosima and Savvaty Cathedral of the Solovetsky Monastery initiallyidentified as remains of the archimandrites Porphyry, Theophan, Varlaam, and Ioannikywere examined. In addition to a standard procedure of identification that includes,among other things, comparison of the reconstructed images of the deceased with theirportraits made in their lifetime, a set of paleopathological symptoms on the bones of theskeletons were analyzed. These pathologies along with archival data became a reliablebasis for identifying the archimandrite Porphyry buried in vault No. 4. In other casesstandard anthropological techniques could not provide exhaustive information; alignmentof photographs and paintings was used as indirect evidence in identifying the buriedpersons.