A 3,500-Year-Old Royal Mummy Digitally Unwrapped by Scientists, Reveals Secrets About Ancient Pharaoh
For decades researchers analyzed mummies from every angle possible. The examination carried concerns though, especially in regards to the mummy's preservation. However, a set of experts came up with a method that ensured the protection of these mummies and at the same time gave an in-depth view. This methodology was applied to a royal mummy in 2021, stated NBC News. Findings regarding this examination of the mummy were published in Frontiers.
The process was digital unwrapping and had been used on the 3,500-year-old royal mummy of King Amenhotep I. "For the first time, we can know information about the mummy without disturbing the mummy," Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptologist and one of the scientists involved in the research said. The method utilized techniques like X-ray technology and computerized tomography scanning, to catch a glimpse of mummy's insides. The CT technology used in this analysis is mostly used for diagnosis purposes of living beings. Researchers proved with their success in King Amenhotep I's examination, that it can also be applied to mummies for noninvasive investigation.
King Amenhotep I reigned over Egypt from 1525 to 1504 B.C. Though his tomb was never located, his mummy was excavated from its reburied location at Luxor in 1881. This mummy went through the process of digital unwrapping, marking the first time a mummy was subjected to a comprehensive analysis with this method. The method unveiled the mummy's face and also other characteristics like height, age as well as health condition at the time of death. The images showcased that the king's face was oval. Examinations revealed that the individual had a narrow chin, mildly protruding upper teeth, and a small nose. Bone analysis further displayed that the man was 35 years and in good health, at the time of death. There were no indications of disease or injuries on the remains. Researchers were shocked to see that the teeth were somewhat intact even after three millenniums.
In the examination, researchers took very thin CT images that displayed the crosssection of the mummy's body. After putting together, the images formed a 3D reconstruction of Amenhotep I physical structure. "Like slices of toast, when put together, make a full loaf of bread," Dr. Sahar Saleem, a radiology professor at Cairo University’s Department of Medicine said. "The technique enabled me to digitally remove the wrapping to visualize the amulets in between the layers, and to visualize the face of the mummy."
Saleem claimed that Amenhotep I's mummy was the perfect subject for this examination, stated CBS News. "This fact that Amenhotep I's mummy had never been unwrapped in modern times gave us a unique opportunity: not just to study how he had originally been mummified and buried, but also how he had been treated and reburied twice, centuries after his death, by High Priests of Amun," she said. "By digitally unwrapping the mummy and 'peeling off' its virtual layers — the facemask, the bandages, and the mummy itself — we could study this well-preserved pharaoh in unprecedented detail."
The examinations found that unlike Tutankhamun and Ramses II, Amenhotep I's brains were not removed during the mummification process, NBC News stated. According to researchers, the king was laid to rest with 30 amulets and a belt carrying several golden beads. Researchers were hopeful that the results of this examination mean that they could preserve the heritage of their mummies while still pursuing their inquisitiveness. The experts planned to use the method on more royal mummies.