Brooklyn Museum researchers decided to have CAT scans done on the mummies in their collection to learn more about ancient funeral practices and perhaps causes of death. Imagine their excitement when the scan of a mummy named Lady Hor proved "she" was a man. The mistake was made in 1937 because of the mummy's coffin. The coffin had no beard, and archeologists thought that meant the mummy was a woman. Museums have probably made other mistakes like this. The CAT scans revealed great details. One of the other mummies was found to have a 5-inch reed in his esophagus. Was it an ancient medical apparatus to help with breathing? Swallowing?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
THE MUMMY IS A DADDY
Brooklyn Museum researchers decided to have CAT scans done on the mummies in their collection to learn more about ancient funeral practices and perhaps causes of death. Imagine their excitement when the scan of a mummy named Lady Hor proved "she" was a man. The mistake was made in 1937 because of the mummy's coffin. The coffin had no beard, and archeologists thought that meant the mummy was a woman. Museums have probably made other mistakes like this. The CAT scans revealed great details. One of the other mummies was found to have a 5-inch reed in his esophagus. Was it an ancient medical apparatus to help with breathing? Swallowing?
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1 comment:
Perhaps something to dump embalming fluid into the body with.
Or even perhaps a favorite libation of the deceased as they believed in the afterlife.
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