King Richard's heart preserved

Scientists have found that the heart of King Richard I, who ruled England in the 12th-Century, was preserved using mercury, mint and frankincense, among other sweet-smelling plants.

Scientists have found that the heart of King Richard I, who ruled England in the 12th-Century, was preserved using mercury, mint and frankincense, among other sweet-smelling plants.

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The king's heart was removed and mummified separately from the rest of his body when he died in 1199. It rested in a reliquary at Notre Dame in Rouen for centuries before its rediscovery in 1838.

Scientists have found the chemical composition of the substances used to preserve the heart, LiveScience reported.