1
|
Saleem SN, Seddik SAER, el-Halwagy M. Scanning and three-dimensional-printing using computed tomography of the "Golden Boy" mummy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 9:1028377. [PMID: 36760882 PMCID: PMC9902354 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1028377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ancient Egyptian mummies represent an opportunity to learn more about the health, beliefs, and skills of humans in antiquity. A fully wrapped mummy, from a Late Ptolemaic cemetery (c.332-30 BC) in Edfu, Egypt, has been stored, unexamined, at the Cairo Egyptian Museum since 1916. We hypothesized that scanning and 3D-printing the mummy using Computed Tomography (CT) could help in documenting and promoting its public display. CT enabled non-invasive digital unwrapping and revealed a well-preserved mummy. Biological sex could be determined from the presence of male genitalia; epiphyseal fusion and tooth eruption indicated an approximate age at death of 14-15 years. The deceased had healthy teeth and bones without evidence of poor nutrition or disease. CT detected a high-quality mummification process that included brain removal through an iatrogenic defect of the cribriform plate and viscera removal via a left lower-abdominal incision. The heart remained in the chest as a spiritual symbol. Resin was poured into the emptied cranial and torso cavities, and linen packs were placed inside the torso. The Mummy's external ornamentation includes a gilded head mask, a pectoral cartonnage, and a pair of sandals. CT identified 49 amulets inside the mummy and between the wrappings, arranged in three columns. The amulets have 21 different shapes, including Udjat, scarabs, Ajet, Djed-pillar, Tyt, Placenta, Double-Plume, and Right-angle. CT densities indicated that 30 (61%) amulets were metal (likely gold), and the other amulets were made of faience, stones, or fired clay. The embalmers placed amulets to protect and provide vitality for the body for the afterlife. A gold tongue amulet was placed inside the mouth to ensure the deceased could speak in the afterlife. A Two-finger amulet was placed beside the penis to protect the embalming incision. 3D-printing enabled the tactile and visual study of a heart scarab found inside the thoracic cavity. Findings from this study suggest that ancient Egyptians valued their children and provided them with ritual treatment. State-of-the-art techniques such as CT and 3D printing provided valuable insights and supported the museum display of the mummy, nicknamed "The Golden Boy."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahar N. Saleem
- Department of Radiology, Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt,*Correspondence: Sahar N. Saleem, ,
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nerlich AG, Panzer S, Wimmer J, Hamann C, Peschel OK. Adipositas and metabolic bone disorder in a 16th century Upper Austrian infant crypt mummy—An interdisciplinary palaeopathological insight into historical aristocratic life. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:979670. [DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.979670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe here the results of a multidisciplinary study on an infant mummy from 16th century Upper Austria buried in the crypt of the family of the Counts of Starhemberg. The macroscopic-anthropological, radiological (whole-body CT scan), histological (skin tissue), and radiocarbon isotope investigations suggested a male infant of 10–18 months' age, most likely dying between 1550 and 1635 CE (probably Reichard Wilhelm, 1625–1626 CE), that presented with evidence of metabolic bone disease with significant bilateral flaring of costochondral joints resembling “rachitic rosary” of the ribs, along with straight long bones and lack of fractures or subperiosteal bleeding residues. Although incompletely developed, the osteopathology points toward rickets, without upper or lower extremities long bone deformation. The differential diagnosis is vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) (also with an incomplete presentation, although overlap between both disorders may be present). As additional pathology, there was significantly enlarged subcutaneous fat tissue (thickness more than 1 cm at the navel and thighs and longitudinal creases of the skin) along with a histologically enlarged subcutaneous fat layer consistent with infantile adipositas as a coincident disorder. Finally, remnants of lung tissue with pleural adhesion of the right lung indicate possibly lethal pneumonia, a disease with an increased prevalence in vitamin D deficient infants. Ultimately, the skull presented with extensive destruction of the bones of the base and dislocation of the bones of the skull squama. These changes, however, are most likely post-mortal pseudopathology, the result of a burial in a flat, narrow coffin because there were no bone fractures or residues of bleeding/tissue reaction that would have occurred whilst the patient was alive.
Collapse
|
3
|
Panzer S, Treitl M, Zesch S, Rosendahl W, Helmbold-Doyé J, Thompson RC, Zink AR. Radiological evidence of purulent infections in ancient Egyptian child mummies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2022; 36:30-35. [PMID: 34974252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify computed tomography (CT) findings of purulent infections in ancient Egyptian child mummies. MATERIALS Whole-body CT examination of 21 ancient Egyptian child mummies from German (n = 18), Italian (n = 1), and Swiss museums (n = 2). METHODS CT examinations were evaluated for estimation of age at death and sex of the children. CT examinations were systematically assessed for any CT findings of purulent infection. RESULTS The estimated age at death of the children ranged from about one year to the age of 12-14 years (mean 4.8 years). Twelve children were assessed as male, seven as female and in two sex was indeterminate. Three out of 21 child mummies (14.3%) had radiological evidence of purulent infections. In one mummy, a bandage-like structure at the right lower leg was detected that most likely represented a dressing of a skin lesion. CONCLUSIONS This study appears to be the first to describe radiologically visualized structures consistent with dried pus in ancient Egyptian mummies. This study also appears to be the first to physically demonstrate an original ancient Egyptian dressing. SIGNIFICANCE These cases may serve as models for further paleopathological investigation. The evidence of an original dressing contributes to our knowledge of ancient Egyptian medicine. LIMITATIONS CT was used as the only examination method as sampling of the wrapped mummies was not possible. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Radiological-pathological correlation in mummies in which physical sampling is available may reveal further insights into purulent infections in ancient Egypt.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Panzer
- Department of Radiology, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Prof-Küntscher-Straße 8, D-82418 Murnau, Germany; Institute of Biomechanics, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau and Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria, Prof-Küntscher-Straße 8, D-82418 Murnau, Germany.
| | - Marcus Treitl
- Department of Radiology, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Prof-Küntscher-Straße 8, D-82418 Murnau, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Zesch
- German Mummy Project, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Museum Weltkulturen D5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Wilfried Rosendahl
- German Mummy Project, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Museum Weltkulturen D5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Jana Helmbold-Doyé
- Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 6, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Randall C Thompson
- Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 4330 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA.
| | - Albert R Zink
- Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, I-39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vahur S, Kiudorv L, Somelar P, Cayme JM, Retrato MDC, Remigio RJ, Sharma V, Oras E, Leito I. Quantitative mineralogical analysis of clay-containing materials using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy with PLS method. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 413:6535-6550. [PMID: 34417644 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03617-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A universal method for quantitative analysis of clay components, in terms of mineral composition, using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy (in the mid-IR and far-IR regions) combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression technique (ATR-FT-IR-PLS) is reported. For the PLS method development, altogether 222 samples covering natural clay sources and various archaeological/cultural heritage artefacts were used as calibration and validation standards. This is the largest calibration set used for creating an ATR-FT-IR-PLS method for clay minerals. The quantitative compositions of these standards containing combinations of altogether 29 minerals for the PLS method were determined using XRD analysis. The developed ATR-FT-IR with PLS method is quick and easy to use, and enables analysis of very small sample amounts (down to a few mg). This is very important when working with samples from archaeological and cultural heritage objects. The developed ATR-FT-IR-PLS method enables quantifying the contents of 7 main classes of minerals in different clays with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) ranging from 0.9 to 5.1 g/100g. This means that in some cases, depending also on the content of the mineral in the sample, the accuracy is at a semiquantitative level. This quantitative method was successfully applied to 11 cultural heritage case-study samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Signe Vahur
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Lisett Kiudorv
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peeter Somelar
- Department of Geology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jan-Michael Cayme
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Rady Jazmin Remigio
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Varun Sharma
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ester Oras
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ivo Leito
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Miski M. Next Chapter in the Legend of Silphion: Preliminary Morphological, Chemical, Biological and Pharmacological Evaluations, Initial Conservation Studies, and Reassessment of the Regional Extinction Event. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10010102. [PMID: 33418989 PMCID: PMC7825337 DOI: 10.3390/plants10010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Silphion was an ancient medicinal gum-resin; most likely obtained from a Ferula species growing in the Cyrene region of Libya ca. 2500 years ago. Due to its therapeutic properties and culinary value, silphion became the main economic commodity of the Cyrene region. It is generally believed that the source of silphion became extinct in the first century AD. However, there are a few references in the literature about the cultivated silphion plant and its existence up to the fifth century. Recently, a rare and endemic Ferula species that produces a pleasant-smelling gum-resin was found in three locations near formerly Greek villages in Anatolia. Morphologic features of this species closely resemble silphion, as it appears in the numismatic figures of antique Cyrenaic coins, and conform to descriptions by ancient authors. Initial chemical and pharmacological investigations of this species have confirmed the medicinal and spice-like quality of its gum-resin supporting a connection with the long-lost silphion. A preliminary conservation study has been initiated at the growth site of this rare endemic Ferula species. The results of this study and their implications on the regional extinction event, and future development of this species will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmut Miski
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34116, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Drosou K, Collin TC, Freeman PJ, Loynes R, Freemont T. The first reported case of the rare mitochondrial haplotype H4a1 in ancient Egypt. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17037. [PMID: 33046824 PMCID: PMC7550590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Takabuti, was a female who lived in ancient Egypt during the 25th Dynasty, c.660 BCE. Her mummified remains were brought to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1834 and are currently displayed in the Ulster Museum. To gain insight into Takabuti’s ancestry, we used deep sampling of vertebral bone, under X-ray control, to obtain non-contaminated bone tissue from which we extracted ancient DNA (aDNA) using established protocols. We targeted the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), known to be highly informative for human ancestry, and identified 38 single nucleotide variants using next generation sequencing. The specific combination of these SNVs suggests that Takabuti belonged to mitochondrial haplogroup H4a1. Neither H4 nor H4a1 have been reported in ancient Egyptian samples, prior to this study. The modern distribution of H4a1 is rare and sporadic and has been identified in areas including the Canary Islands, southern Iberia and the Lebanon. H4a1 has also been reported in ancient samples from Bell Beaker and Unetice contexts in Germany, as well as Bronze Age Bulgaria. We believe that this is an important finding because first, it adds to the depth of knowledge about the distribution of the H4a1 haplogroup in existing mtDNA, thus creating a baseline for future occurrences of this haplogroup in ancient Egyptian remains. Second, it is of great importance for archaeological sciences, since a predominantly European haplogroup has been identified in an Egyptian individual in Southern Egypt, prior to the Roman and Greek influx (332BCE).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Drosou
- KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PG, UK. .,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Thomas C Collin
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Peter J Freeman
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M19 9PG, UK
| | - Robert Loynes
- KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PG, UK
| | - Tony Freemont
- KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PG, UK
| |
Collapse
|