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The value of CT imaging of H orus in determining the method of mummification and the sex of the mummy
Author(s) -
Davey Janet,
Stewart Margaret Ellen Birchland,
Drummer Olaf H
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1754-9485
pISSN - 1754-9477
DOI - 10.1111/1754-9485.12070
Subject(s) - medicine , abdomen , radiology , computed tomography , papyrus , nuclear medicine , anatomy , classics , art
Radiology was used to determine the sex of a child mummy who had conflicting records based on two different translations of a name written in a section of papyrus inserted into the mummy wrappings and also to determine the type of mummification used to preserve the body. Methods Ancient texts of H erodotus and D iodorus S iculus were consulted for references to mummification, and N icholson M useum records provided details of the mummy which was examined at C entral S ydney I maging using T oshiba A quilion 64 CT machine (Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Tochigi, Japan). The original CT scan data were loaded into a V itrea 2 (Vital Images, Minnetonka, MN, USA) workstation at the V ictorian I nstitute of F orensic M edicine, M elbourne, A ustralia, for further study. Results The scans showed that the child had been elaborately mummified according to ancient descriptions albeit with one variation. The provenance of the child was unknown but stylistically appeared to be from the G reco‐ R oman P eriod of ancient E gypt. Interpretation of the CT images determined that the child was male, had died of unknown cause and had been excerebrated and eviscerated post‐mortem when the heart was removed. Unexplained inclusions were identified within the abdomen and thorax. Broken and displaced ribs showed evidence of a previous endoscopic investigation. Conclusion This study provided evidence that CT scanning was an excellent non‐invasive modality to evaluate ancient mummies in its ability to demonstrate fine anatomical detail and identify post‐mortem changes. The study underlined the role of using current medical practice to determine sex rather than relying on ancient texts and uncorroborated opinion.