Comparison of Two Falconid Mummies from the Late Period of Ancient Egypt Using Noninvasive Techniques

Morgan, Lee W.; McGovern-Huffman, Sue; French-Kreigh, Pamela

doi:10.3356/jrr-11-21.1

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…The bird of prey mummy (W531) is wrapped and covered in a black, possibly resinous, material. It is believed to be votive, consistent with other studies of similar bird mummies 5 . The specimen is 23 cm long and 7 cm wide at its broadest point near the midpoint.…”

Section: Bird Of Prey (W531)supporting

confidence: 90%

“…However, microCT permits the measurement of bone elements in the correct plane, enabling us to identify the likely species of the mummy as a kestrel. Previous studies have shown that falcons has been found in mummified packages 5,13 , and birds of prey feature heavily in ancient Egyptian religion, although the exact species is not always identified by Egyptologists. Birds of prey are usually associated with solar gods, for example the gods Horus, Sokar, and Re.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Votive offerings were given to gods, with particular animals associated with specific deities. Gods could also be symbolised as animals, such as the goddess Bastet, who could be depicted as a cat or other feline, or a human with feline head; and the god Horus who was often depicted as a hawk or falcon 1 , 4 , 5 . Mummified animals were purchased by visitors to temples, who, it has been suggested, would offer them to the gods, in a similar way that candles may be offered in churches today.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of diet, deification, and death within ancient Egyptian mummified animals

Johnston

Thomas

Jones

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The clues to life and death of mummified animals can remain hidden beneath their wrappings. Developments in non-invasive imaging have enabled detailed study of their internal structures. Laboratory-based X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) and focussed imaging protocols permit smaller mummified remains, such as animals, to be studied at higher resolution. In this study, we use microCT to image three different animal mummies. Revealing the internal structures provides insights into their biography, the conditions in which they were kept, complex mummification practices, possible causes of death, and subsequent handling damage. Thousands of years after the production of these mummified animals, the X-ray microCT technique facilitates new investigations, revealing 'harder' skeletal structures, mummification materials, and even desiccated soft tissues. Potential evidence for an 'opening of the mouth' procedure was found in a snake, along with indicators of the poor conditions in which the snake was kept when alive, leading to dehydration. Examination of a cat mummy revealed it was less than five months old and had its neck purposefully broken. It was also possible to identify a bird mummy to species level from the X-ray data. Improved understanding of animal mummification through scientific imaging can thus inform conservation and understanding of past human-animal relationships. Ancient Egyptians mummified their human dead to ensure their rebirth in the afterlife. Human mummification is known throughout the Pharaonic period. In addition to humans, animals were mummified, including cats, ibis, hawks, snakes, crocodiles and dogs. Ikram 1,2 has suggested that mummified animal remains can be divided into six categories: {1} pets buried with their owner; {2} victual mummies buried with the human to provide food in the afterlife; {3} sacred animals which were worshipped during their lifetime; {4} votive offerings which depicted the gods and were placed in temples as offerings; {5} false/amalgam; and {6} other. Votive offerings are by far the most common animal mummies. Their production began in earnest in the Late Period (672-332 BC) and continued into the Roman Period, at least through to the fourth century AD, when they number in the millions 3. Votive offerings were given to gods, with particular animals associated with specific deities. Gods could also be symbolised as animals, such as the goddess Bastet, who could be depicted as a cat or other feline, or a human with feline head; and the god Horus who was often depicted as a hawk or falcon 1,4,5. Mummified animals were purchased by visitors to temples, who, it has been suggested, would offer them to the gods, in a similar way that candles may be offered in churches today. Egyptologists have also suggested that the mummified votive animals were meant to act as messengers between people on earth and the gods 1,6. The animal mummification 'industry' required high production volumes, necessitating significant infrastructure, resources, and staffing of farms that rea...

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Section: Bird Of Prey (W531)supporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence of diet, deification, and death within ancient Egyptian mummified animals

Johnston

Thomas

Jones

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…In recent years, made more accessible by the trivialization of new medical imaging technologies, research on the study of animal mummies is becoming more and more important internationally (cf. [1], [14], [19], [31], [27], [30], [32], [8], [35], [15], [40], [13], [18], [42]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A digital introspection of a mummy cat

Gaugne

Porcier

Nicolas

et al. 2018

2018 3rd Digital Heritage International Congress (DigitalHERITAGE) Held Jointly With 2018 24th International Conference on Virt

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In the last decade, made more accessible by the trivialization of new medical imaging technologies, research on the study of animal mummies of Ancient Egypt is becoming more and more important, leading to a better understanding of the History and Culture of this civilization. Additional new 3D technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing allow to enrich the research process and open innovative possibilities for scenography in scientific mediation. The work in this paper focuses on one particular mummy cat and combine CT scan, 3D printing and augmented reality in a global process to accompany and support at the same time a scientific study of the object and a preparation of a mediation action in a Museum.

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“…The use of CT scanning for the analysis of mummies has even become a gold-standard method (Rühli et al, 2004;Chhem, 2006). A number of animal mummies have also been analysed using CT scanning, including (among others) birds of prey, cats and ibises (Falke et al, 1987;Ikram, 1995;Jackowski et al, 2008;Morgan and McGovern-Huffman, 2008;McKnight, 2010;McKnight et al, 2011;Morgan et al, 2011;Bailleul-LeSeur, 2012;Cornelius et al, 2012;Gnudi et al, 2012;Wade et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional model of an ancient Egyptian falcon mummy skeleton

Plessis

Slabbert

Swanepoel

et al. 2015

Rapid Prototyping Journal

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Emerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.

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Comparison of Two Falconid Mummies from the Late Period of Ancient Egypt Using Noninvasive Techniques

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 6 publications

References 3 publications

Evidence of diet, deification, and death within ancient Egyptian mummified animals

Evidence of diet, deification, and death within ancient Egyptian mummified animals

A digital introspection of a mummy cat

Three-dimensional model of an ancient Egyptian falcon mummy skeleton

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