Scientists at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago used advanced scanning technology to uncover new secrets of ancient Egyptian mummies without disturbing their delicate wrappings. A mobile computed tomography (CT) scanner was parked outside the museum for four days this summer, allowing researchers to scan 26 mummified bodies from the museum's collection. The scans produced thousands of X-ray images, which, when digitally stacked, created three-dimensional images that revealed the skeletons and artifacts inside the mummies without physically disturbing the remains.
This non-destructive technology has provided a deeper understanding of the mummies' stories and the past. Researchers hope to continue examining the thousands of CT scans for more clues about death and life in ancient Egypt, with full analysis potentially taking up to three years. "We started by looking at these two individuals primarily just to get a better idea of age, sex, and any diseases or obvious things we might see," said Stacy Drake, a researcher at the museum.
One of the most fascinating cases is Lady Chenet-aa, an aristocratic woman who lived about 3,000 years ago during Dynasty 22 in Egypt. Her burial reflected high-status practices. The biggest mystery about Lady Chenet-aa centered around how she was placed in the coffin, known as a "cartonnage," as there did not appear to be a suitable point of entry for her body. CT scans were able to detect a small seam down the back of the cartonnage. The scans revealed that her body would have been stood upright, and the coffin, softened with humidity to become malleable, was slit from head to foot and held open before being lowered down over the body and seamed together.
The scans helped scientists estimate that Lady Chenet-aa died in her late thirties to early forties. At the time of her death, she had stuffing placed in her trachea to ensure that her neck would not collapse. Artificial eyes of an unknown material were placed in her eye sockets to ensure she had them in the afterlife, demonstrating the ancient Egyptians' belief that every physical detail needed to be complete for the afterlife. JP Brown, a conservator at the museum, said, "If you want eyes, then there have to be physical eyes, or at least some physical allusion to the eyes. They'll put a prosthesis on you to make sure you have everything you need when you go to the afterlife."
Another individual studied is Harwa, who lived as the doorkeeper and steward of a granary in Egypt around 3,000 years ago. The scans revealed that Harwa lived to an age between 40 and 45 years old. Harwa's remains showed no signs that would indicate a life of hard, physical labor, reflecting his high social status and comfortable lifestyle. His immaculate teeth further suggested he led a comfortable life, unlike Lady Chenet-aa, whose teeth showed significant wear due to a harsh diet. "We're not seeing much wear on the bodies of these two individuals in particular, who had a higher status and probably didn't do much physical work," said Stacy Drake.
The team at the Field Museum aims to adopt a more sensitive and person-centered approach to research on mummified remains. "This is a really great way for us to look at who these people were—not just the stuff that they made and the stories that we have concocted about them, but the actual individuals that were living at this time," Drake said. She added, "From an archaeological perspective, it's incredibly rare to be able to investigate or see history from the perspective of a single individual."
Computed tomography (CT) scanners work by building up a three-dimensional picture made from thousands of X-ray images captured by the machine. When the X-rays were stacked, they created 3D images that revealed the skeletons and the items inside the mummies. This non-destructive technology allowed researchers to learn about "each deceased person's individuality and reveal what their community thought important enough to bring with them to their eternal afterlives." The scans also helped the researchers establish whether the people they were studying suffered from any health issues.
In the past, when archaeologists were discovering mummies in the deserts of Egypt, they unwrapped them to see what they could learn. Now, the emphasis is on protecting the mummified individuals to help them last thousands of years more. "Nowadays, practices around mummies have changed to show respect for how human remains are presented and exhibited in museums," Drake said. She added, "One of the most important things for these ancient Egyptians is how they continue living after death. And that's part of their story and their journey."
The Field Museum's announcement highlighted the need for a more sensitive and person-centered approach to research on mummified remains. JP Brown said, "We're trying to understand them as people so we can share those stories and knowledge with the general public to rehumanize and change the narratives, to make them more respectful and give a little more dignity to these mummified individuals." The museum wants to convey the idea that the mummies are people, more than art objects.
Harwa is also famous for his "afterlife" in the modern world, which underscores the evolution in how museums and researchers view mummified remains. In 1939, Harwa became the first mummified person to fly on an airplane from Chicago to New York. "Maybe it's no longer what we would consider ethical," Drake said. She added, "One of the most important things for these ancient Egyptians is how they continue living after death. And that's part of their story and their journey."
The research on these mummies provides a new perspective on what death meant for ancient Egyptian civilization, revealing new information on mortuary practices more than 3,000 years ago, as well as what they believed was important to take to the afterlife. The scans also offer the opportunity to understand the individuality and personal details of each mummified Egyptian in a respectful way. The Field Museum plans to continue its CT scan research through 2025, hoping to learn more about these individuals and share their stories with the public.
Sources: Express, CNN, Artnet News
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq