A decapitated Egyptian mummy’s head has been discovered in an attic in the British county of Kent. Scientists are putting it through a state-of-the-art CT scan to try and uncover its origins.
The head may have been a souvenir brought to England in the 19th century and given to the home’s owner in the early 20th century. It was discovered in a glass case during a clear-out after the death of a man in Ramsgate.
Researchers say the head was inherited by the man’s brother, who took it to the Canterbury Museums and Galleries for examination.
Professor of Egyptology Dr. Bassam Al-Shamma told Asharq Al-Awsat that during the 19th century, it was common to present Egyptian antiques as souvenirs.
Initial X-rays at Canterbury Christ Church University suggested that it was an adult woman, however, the team organized a detailed CT scan to learn more about it.
Preliminary results from the scan, carried out at Maidstone Hospital, indicate that the brain has been removed, the teeth are worn down by a rough diet, and the tongue actually shows remarkable preservation.
“The scan provides a huge amount of information – everything from dental status, pathologies, method of preservation as well as assisting estimations of age and sex. We plan on using the scanning data to create a three-dimensional replica of the head and possible facial reconstruction to allow a more intensive study of it without exposing the actual artifact,” says James Elliott, a senior radiographer at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, in a media release.
Elliott said mummification was a “common practice” in ancient Egypt, but with the advancement of CT technology, scientists are now able to gather more details about ancient Egyptian traditions.
“Beginning in 3500 BC, mummification was a way to safeguard the spirit in its journey to the afterlife,” the researcher explains.
“Ironically, the ancient Egyptians believed that a person’s mind was held in their heart and had little regard for the brain. Regardless of this, the brain was removed to help preservation of the individual.”
“This project is part of a larger aim to preserve the head and allow it to be displayed in conservation grade packaging for public viewing,” says Craig Bowen, collections and learning manager at Canterbury Museums and Galleries.
