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Scientists have proved pieces of skull found in a tin belonged to composer LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, and they hope the discovery will provide the reason why the German composer lost his hearing at the age of 27.
Scientists at San Jose State University in California have spent four years testing the pieces of bone, which were in a tin inherited by US resident PAUL KAUFFMAN.
Kauffman believes the remains were smuggled from Vienna, Austria, by his grandmother during the Nazi occupation in World War II.
He says, "There was a lot of talk about Beethoven in our family. But I never took the idea of the bones seriously."
Kauffman was persuaded to have the bones examined after he was contacted by an author writing about the great composer.
Beethoven died in 1827 aged 56. (MP/WNTMI/GES)
(c) 2004 World Entertainment News Network
