Keywords:
Computer applications, CT, Image manipulation / Reconstruction, Computer Applications-3D, Tissue characterisation, Forensics
Authors:
M. Disaró1, P. Sartori2; 1Legnaro/IT, 2Rovigo/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-0398
Purpose
Before the development of modern radiology techniques,
ancient mummies had to be analyzed through a physical examination that foresaw the removal of the bandage followed by the physical analysis and,
eventually,
the dissection of the cadaver,
all irreversibly destructive methodologies and very far from the Egyptians’ desire of an eternal preservation of the body.
In 1898,
three years later from the revolutionary discovery of the X-ray by Roentgen,
the radiogram of a mummy was performed and published for the first time (1).
This signed the beginning of a new field of researches: the possibility of a non-invasive study,
which guaranteed the preservation for all finds of such reports,
encouraged its use for historical study applications (2).
The introduction of computer tomography (CT) at the end of the 70’s considerably increased the possibilities of such analysis.
The first CT on an Egyptian mummy had been published in 1979 (3).
Since then,
CT has become the gold-standard technique for these purposes: in fact,
it provides more detailed informations,
allowing a deeper study of the rests.
The development of this branch of radiology consented a multidisciplinary approach to the study of ancient ages.
We performed a complete CT study of an Egyptian mummy and of an embalmed crocodile,
which were buried together.
The rests were found near Manfalut in 1862 by the Italian exploratory Giovanni Miani (1810-1872),
during one of his attempts to find out the Nile Source; he brought them in Venice,
where they are actually exposed in the Natural Science Museum.
Since their arrival,
the mummy was attributed to a pigmy inhabitant of those African regions,
mainly as a consequence of its dark skin coloring.
After a careful and delicate restoration,
a gold powder was found on the mummy’s face: this finding arose the hypothesis that it was corresponding to the earthly remains of a character of a high lineage.
This assumption found further confirmations after a more careful study of Miani’s diaries (4) in which he noted the circumcstances of his discovery.
Moreover,
the finding of numerous embalmed crocodiles among the mummy indicated that it should belonged to a priestess of god Sobek,
the god of the waters and of the Nile’s flooding,
incarnated exactly by this animal (5).
Our Department was involved in a multidisciplinary study of the human mummy and one of the crocodile found next to it.
In particular,
our purposes were to: 1.
evaluate the possible causes of death or pre-existing pathologies; 2.
determine the sex of the mummy and the approximately age of death; 3.
verify the presence of any valuables located inside the bodies.