An ancient Egyptian “how-not” has been solved, according to researchers who used imaging techniques to look under the wraps of mummified animals.
From birds to crocodiles, lions and beetles, the ancient Egyptians had a tendency to mummify animals. While some pets were buried with their owners, millions of animals were killed and mummified as votive offerings to the gods.
Now, researchers have used a high-resolution, non-invasive 3D imaging technique called X-ray microCT imaging to gain incredible insight into animal mummies and the thriving industry that surrounds them.
‘As soon as we scan [this technique]”We’re seeing what someone has not seen for thousands of years,” said Richard Johnston, a professor of engineering at Swansea University and co-author of the study. “It’s potentially more useful than unpacking, not just because it does not destroys [the mummy], but actually everything is in position, because it was nice at the time [of mummification]. ”
Written in the journal Scientific Reports, the team reports on how they looked within three animal mummies from the collection of the Egypt Center at Swansea University: a cat, a bird and a snake.
While the latter resembles an oval bundle of fodder, the scans revealed that it contained an inflamed juvenile cobra – a snake of great symbolism to the ancient Egyptians – that had a spinal fracture. The team said that along with damage to the snake’s head this fits killing by grabbing the tail and hitting a surface like a whip.
The head of the mummified cat, which had a painted burial mask, was detached from the rest of the mummy, and the team said scans suggest the animal was less than 18 weeks old and probably domesticated. The animal was injured or had its neck broken, potentially so that its head could be placed upright on the body.
Scans of the bird revealed that this was probably a Eurasian kestrel. The cause of his death remains a mystery.
The team said the scans also shed light on the lives of the creatures: the cobra appears to have calcified kidneys, suggesting gout, which has been found in modern snakes kept in poor conditions. Johnston said this and the young age of the snake suggested that it could be raised for sacrifice.
The team found that the cobra was mummified with its mouth open, and small amounts of a substance called baking soda appeared to be placed just inside its mouth. Johnston said this potentially suggested a ritual called ‘opening of the mouth’.
The cobra catches are also lacking. While these may have just been dropped, the team say they could have been removed to prevent injury to the embalmers.
Johnston said the findings offer fresh insights. ‘It’s not just starting to build the image [a] mummy as a specimen in a museum, but at that point you start to understand more about life, ”he said.
Salima Ikram, a Egyptology professor at the American University of Cairo who was not involved in the work, said the study was very interesting, “in particular the idea that snakes can be kept for mummification purposes, as stated for cats. , dogs and castles. ”
But she said it was unlikely the cobra was the subject of an opening of the oral ritual. “The baking soda and resin placed in the mouth could be to neutralize the snake in the hereafter,” she said.
