A mummy refers to the preserved body of a human or animal, typically associated with ancient Egyptian practices, though mummification has also been found in other cultures such as the Incas of South America and the Chinchorro of Chile. In Egypt, mummification was a complex process involving embalming the body and wrapping it in linen, believed to preserve the deceased for the afterlife, a concept central to ancient Egyptian religion. The internal organs were often removed and preserved separately, with the heart usually left inside the body. Mummies provide invaluable insights into the health, lifestyle, and diseases of past populations and have been crucial in the study of ancient civilizations. Modern science, through techniques like X-ray and DNA analysis, continues to uncover details about the diet, health, and even family lineage of mummified individuals, offering a direct link to human history and cultural practices.
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An interdisciplinary project led by primatologist Gisela Kopp is employing genetic analysis to determine the geographic origins of baboon mummies discovered in ancient Egypt. In…
A digital unwrapping has revealed that a 2,300-year-old unopened mummy serves as a showcase of ancient Egyptian beliefs. Scientists used CT scans to digitally unwrap…
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Study shows that 21st dynasty restorers ‘lovingly restored’ mummy, dispelling theory that they were bent on reusing old royal burial equipment. All the royal mummies…
The first ever comprehensive study of mummified children in Sicily’s famous Capuchin Catacombs is being led by Staffordshire University. Dr. Kirsty Squires, Associate Professor of…
Researchers used the powerful X-rays of the Advanced Photon Source to see the preserved remains of an ancient Egyptian girl without disturbing the linen wrappings….
Analysis of three mummified animals — a cat, a bird, and a snake — from Ancient Egypt using advanced 3D X-ray imaging is described in…
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Experiments at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are casting a new light on Egyptian soil and ancient mummified bone samples…
Using ‘next generation’ DNA sequencing scientists have found that the famous ‘Two Brothers’ mummies of the Manchester Museum have different fathers so are, in fact,…
Researchers have successfully recovered and analyzed ancient DNA from Egyptian mummies dating from approximately 1400 BCE to 400 CE, including the first genome-wide nuclear data…
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