Ned Kelly remains confirmed in Australia

William Atkins
Thursday, 01 September 2011 22:49

Science - Biology

After over 130 years of unknowns, the remains of infamous Australian outlaw and folk hero Ned Kelly was confirmed by scientists with the use of forensic techniques.

Edward 'Ned' Kelly was an Irish-Australian bushranger. Some thought him a killer, an outlaw, while others considered him a hero who stood up for the rights of Australians against British colonial rule.

He was famous for making and using suits of armor to protect himself and other members of his gang while on crime sprees.

Kelly was also very outspoken during his life about how English police treated Irish Catholics during this time of Australian history (while parts of it were under colonial rule by England).

For over 130 years, people did not know where his remains were kept after he was hanged at the Old Melbourne jail for the killing of a number of police officers.

However, just recently, computed tomography (CT) scans, x-ray scans, pathological findings, odontology (the use of dental methods), anthropology, and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing were all used to confirm that Ned Kelly's remains have been at Pentridge Prison in Melbourne for all of these years.

His exploits during life and the folklore and history that developed after his death has made Ned Kelly into quite a character in Australian history.

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