Inside Africa

Egypt’s mummies get virtually naked with CT scans

Daisy Carrington, for CNN
3 minute read
Published 12:49 AM EDT, Thu May 1, 2014
The British Museum has started scanning several mummies from its collection using a CT scanner from the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The British Museum has started scanning several mummies from its collection using a CT scanner from the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Trustees of the British Museum
Egyptologists at the museum also use the same 3-D design software employed by car companies to create models of the mummies, including that of an unknown man (pictured).
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
Egyptologists at the museum also use the same 3-D design software employed by car companies to create models of the mummies, including that of an unknown man (pictured).
Trustees of the British Museum
The unknown man, who died around 600 BC, was originally stored in a coffin meant for a female. CT scans revealed that the mummy was in fact male, and likely put in the coffin by accident.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The unknown man, who died around 600 BC, was originally stored in a coffin meant for a female. CT scans revealed that the mummy was in fact male, and likely put in the coffin by accident.
Trustees of the British Museum
The museum uses a dual-energy CT scanner, which can create images of thick areas, like bone, and thin textures, like skin and fabric.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The museum uses a dual-energy CT scanner, which can create images of thick areas, like bone, and thin textures, like skin and fabric.
Trustees of the British Museum
The modeling software allows researchers to virtually 'strip away' not only the fabric encapsulating the mummy, buts its skin as well.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The modeling software allows researchers to virtually 'strip away' not only the fabric encapsulating the mummy, buts its skin as well.
Trustees of the British Museum
The scan of the unknown man revealed evidence of dental abbesses and the loss of several teeth, which would have meant he likely was in severe pain in the lead up to his death.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The scan of the unknown man revealed evidence of dental abbesses and the loss of several teeth, which would have meant he likely was in severe pain in the lead up to his death.
Trustees of the British Museum
The scan also revealed that Egyptian embalmers botched the job. A chunk of his brain (in blue) was left in the skull, along with a piece of the spatula used to extract the organ (in green).
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The scan also revealed that Egyptian embalmers botched the job. A chunk of his brain (in blue) was left in the skull, along with a piece of the spatula used to extract the organ (in green).
Trustees of the British Museum
The unknown man was discovered in Thebes. Scans revealed he likely died around age 35.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
The unknown man was discovered in Thebes. Scans revealed he likely died around age 35.
Vandenbeusch
Egyptologists also scanned the remains of a priestess named Tayesmutengebtiu, or Tamut for short.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
Egyptologists also scanned the remains of a priestess named Tayesmutengebtiu, or Tamut for short.
Trustees of the British Museum
In the 19th century, Egyptologists would sometimes remove the wrappings physically, which often damaged the corpse underneath. Now, researchers can view the mummy in incredible detail without touching it.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
In the 19th century, Egyptologists would sometimes remove the wrappings physically, which often damaged the corpse underneath. Now, researchers can view the mummy in incredible detail without touching it.
Trustees of the British Museum
Thanks to the 3-D visualization software, researchers were able to see the placement and detail of the amulets that decorated Tamut's corpse for the first time.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
Thanks to the 3-D visualization software, researchers were able to see the placement and detail of the amulets that decorated Tamut's corpse for the first time.
Trustees of the British Museum
CT scans have also enabled the museum team to establish Tamut's approximate age at the time of her death (which they place between 30 and 50) by allowing them to examine her pelvis.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
CT scans have also enabled the museum team to establish Tamut's approximate age at the time of her death (which they place between 30 and 50) by allowing them to examine her pelvis.
Trustees of the British Museum
They were also able to see plaque build-up in her arteries, which could have put her at risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
They were also able to see plaque build-up in her arteries, which could have put her at risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Trustees of the British Museum
For the first time, museum staff are able to discern the inscriptions on Tamut's amulets, as well as their significance based on their placement on her body.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
For the first time, museum staff are able to discern the inscriptions on Tamut's amulets, as well as their significance based on their placement on her body.
Trustees of the British Museum
As well as a priestess, Tamut was a singer, and likely served at the temple of Amun-Re at Karnak in Luxor, Egypt.
Underneath a mummy's wrappings —
As well as a priestess, Tamut was a singer, and likely served at the temple of Amun-Re at Karnak in Luxor, Egypt.
Vandenbeusch
Underneath a mummy's wrapping's

Story highlights

New CT scans help researchers "undress" a mummy virtually

The British Museum uses the same software employed by car companies to make 3-D models

Researchers can now approximate a mummy's age, cause of death and general health

CNN  — 

The urge to undress a mummy can be strong. In the 19th century, Egyptologists didn’t think twice about tearing off a mummy’s wrappings. Even Ramses the Great couldn’t avoid the indignity of being stripped bare in front of an audience of curious onlookers.

Today’s experts in the field know better.

“Certainly, it’s a damaging process, and you lose a lot of information and disturb the mummy itself. It’s also something that is no longer necessary with advancements in technology,” says Dr. Daniel Antoine, the curator of physical anthropology at the British Museum in London.