Multi-disciplinary Egyptology: The Maidstone Mummy
Computerised Tomography or CT Scanning is a nondestructive (and arguably a more respectful) way to examine human and other organic remains. CT scanners, which were first introduced in the mid 1970s, have been used since then to study mummies at institutions like the University of Manchester. Multiple cross sectional X-ray scans are made and assembled in a computer to create 3D images of an entire structure, which allows us to 'see inside'.
This technique is now being more widely used as resources, equipment and expertise become more readily available, but such examinations still require the co-operation of various stakeholders to achieve. This study was made possible by lottery funding, along with support from the Maidstone Museums’ Foundation, the Egyptology Department (British Museum), the Petrie Museum (University College London), Western Ontario University and the Egypt Exploration Society.
The Maidstone mummy was initially believed to be a young girl known as Ta-Kush, but scans now reveal fully erupted wisdom teeth which suggest she was older than first thought when she died. Damage to her spine also suggested she had probably suffered some kind of fall.
Scans also revealed a mummy thought to be a hawk were actually the remains of a 20 week baby, if this is the case it would be one of the youngest ever recorded.
h/t: Caroline Murphy
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/stunning_secrets_revealed_after_scientists_conduct_scan_on_mummy_on_display_in_maidstone_museum_1_4780975
Edit: local news report link broken, no substitute for Blogger version.
Computerised Tomography or CT Scanning is a nondestructive (and arguably a more respectful) way to examine human and other organic remains. CT scanners, which were first introduced in the mid 1970s, have been used since then to study mummies at institutions like the University of Manchester. Multiple cross sectional X-ray scans are made and assembled in a computer to create 3D images of an entire structure, which allows us to 'see inside'.
This technique is now being more widely used as resources, equipment and expertise become more readily available, but such examinations still require the co-operation of various stakeholders to achieve. This study was made possible by lottery funding, along with support from the Maidstone Museums’ Foundation, the Egyptology Department (British Museum), the Petrie Museum (University College London), Western Ontario University and the Egypt Exploration Society.
The Maidstone mummy was initially believed to be a young girl known as Ta-Kush, but scans now reveal fully erupted wisdom teeth which suggest she was older than first thought when she died. Damage to her spine also suggested she had probably suffered some kind of fall.
Scans also revealed a mummy thought to be a hawk were actually the remains of a 20 week baby, if this is the case it would be one of the youngest ever recorded.
h/t: Caroline Murphy
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/stunning_secrets_revealed_after_scientists_conduct_scan_on_mummy_on_display_in_maidstone_museum_1_4780975
Edit: local news report link broken, no substitute for Blogger version.
Can we know the name who's mummy is it.
ReplyDeletealidhaan wani If you click on the article (picture) it gives you all the information, including the name, let me know if you can't find it.
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