Radiological findings in an ancient Iranian salt mummy (Chehrābād ca. 410-350 BC)

OBJECTIVE To study pathologies, peri- and postmortal alterations as well as the general preservation state of an ancient Iranian salt mummy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Several mummified remains from two different time periods (1500-2500 BP) were found in the Chehrābād salt mine in Iran. Computed tomography was performed on Salt Man #4 (410-350 BC), the best preserved out of the six salt mummies (Siemens, Sensation 16; 512 × 512 matrix; 0.75-5 mm slice thickness, 240-mA tube current, 120-kV tube voltage, and 0.976-mm pixel size). RESULTS Radiological analyses showed an excellent state of preservation of an adolescent body. Several normal variants such as aplasia of the frontal sinus as well as a rare congenital deformation of the 5th vertebral body (butterfly vertebra) have been observed. The individual shows multiple fractures, which is consistent with the theory that he died due to a collapse in the ancient salt mine. CONCLUSIONS The salt preserved the soft tissue as well as parts of the inner organs remarkably well. However, further investigations including histology are needed to reveal additional details of the health status of this unique salt mummy

Findings in ancient Egyptian mummies from tomb KV64, Valley of the Kings, Luxor, with evidence of a rheumatic disease

Objective: In 2011, a spectacular find was made in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt - a well-known archaeological site, where pharaohs were buried during the New Kingdom (ca. 1500-1100 BCE). A team from the University of Basel's Kings' Valley Project discovered a tomb (KV64) containing two mummies that were buried in different time episodes (unidentified elite burial, 18th dynasty, and Nehemesbastet, 22nd dynasty). Method: Anthropological investigations of the mummies were performed using portable X-ray and photographic documentation. Results and conclusion: The first burial was an adult individual with bilateral pathological changes at the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), most likely of inflammatory origin, possibly psoriatic arthritis. Investigations of the second burial revealed an intact body of a younger female individual

Multifocal bone lesions in an ancient Egyptian child mummy

Ancient mummies are very valuable human remains especially for the study of the evolution of disease. Non-invasive imaging methods such as computed tomography and X-ray are the gold standard to study such precious remains. We report the case of an ancient Egyptian child mummy from the Musée d'art et d'histoire in Geneva, Switzerland with multifocal sclerotic bone lesions affecting the spine and the left hip. The mummy is of unknown provenance, dating to the Roman period with an estimated age of 4–5 years. An infectious origin of the lesions such as tuberculosis seems most likely. Also regarding the time period an infectious etiology is plausible, since there is evidence that tuberculosis was wide spread in ancient Egypt. However, multiple differential diagnoses are discussed, since the evaluation of disease in ancient remains is different to the clinical standards. Medical history and additional invasive investigations are lacking. Also the desiccation and mummification processes lead to alteration of the tissue resulting in anatomico-morphological distortions. Thus our hypothesis can not be proven and multiple differential diagnoses need to be taken into consideration in this rare case

Ongoing tissue changes in an experimentally mummified human leg

Artificial mummification has been used since antiquity and is best known from ancient Egypt. Despite ancient Egyptian mummies being studied for several decades, the mummification techniques of that time are not well understood. Modern mummification experiments involving animal and human tissues have contributed additional insights relevant to a broad field of research. In the current study, we present follow‐up results of an experiment on artificial mummification, which began in 2009. A human leg was artificially mummified and monitored during almost a year with histological, molecular, and radiological techniques. Since then, it has remained in a dry, natron salt blend for nine years. The current analyses show further progression of dehydration and tissue alterations, as well as DNA degradation, suggesting an ongoing process. Our results add new insights into the mechanisms of tissue mummification. Taking into account that the process is still ongoing, further research is required, including a re‐evaluation of the human leg in the future

Merit. a) frontal and b) lateral view of the vertebral column and the pelvis.

<p>A massive post-mortal disruption of the vertebrae (double arrows) and ribs are visible. The left hip is luxated (red double arrow). No degenerative were observed. Merit wears a fine bracelet on her lower arm (arrow).</p

Merit’s total skeleton reconstruction.

<p>Merit’s total skeleton reconstruction.</p

Reconstructed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) total ion chromatogram (TIC) of the trimethylsilylated total lipid extract of (a) Kha, mummy wrappings (from base of feet) and (b) Merit, mummy wrappings (from base of feet).

<p>Peak identities (‘n’ indicates carbon chain length; where shown, i indicates degree of unsaturation): filled triangles, C_n:i indicates fatty acids; filled squares, C_n indicates α,ω-dicarboxylic acids. C_3:0 2,3-di-OH indicates 2,3-dihydroxypropanoic acid (glyceric acid); C_4:0 3,4-di-OH indicates 3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid (2-deoxytetronic acid); C_16:0 9,10-di-OH (t) indicates 9,10-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid (threo isomer); C_18:1 10-oxo indicates a 10-oxo-octadecenoic acid; C_18:0 10-oxo indicates 10-oxo-octadecanoic acid; C_18:0 9,10-di-OH (t+e) indicates 9,10-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid (threo and erythro isomers); C_18:0 11,12-di-OH indicates 11,12-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid; C_18:2 DAGs indicate octadecadienoyl diglycerides. The letters ms represent monosaccharides and the letters ds represent disaccharides; DHA represents dehydroabietic acid.</p

Kha’s jewellery: a, b) Kha wears a wide collar (double arrow), large ear-rings (arrows) and a large heart scarab on a metal rod (arrowhead); c) the hands laid on the pelvis.

<p>Six finger rings are visible. F. Femoral bone. Imaging parameters: a): 80kv, 8mAs; b): 100kV, 10mAs; c): 70kV, 5mAs.</p

Reconstructed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) total ion chromatogram (TIC) of the trimethylsilylated total lipid extract of (a) Kha, black coating on his outer coffin and (b) Merit, black coating on her outer coffin.

<p>Peak identities (‘n’ indicates carbon chain length; where shown, i indicates degree of unsaturation): filled triangles, C_n:i indicates fatty acids; filled pentagons indicate sesquiterpenoids and their derivatives. The letters ms represent a monosaccharide. Also shown are the structures of two aromatic acids identified: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and terephthalic acid; and the structures of six Pistacia triterpenoid compounds identified: 22,23,24,25,26,27-hexakisnor-dammaran-3,20-dione, 24,28-bisnor-olean-17-en-3-one, 28-nor-olean-17-en-3-one, moronic acid, oleanonic acid and isomasticadienonic acid.</p