Insights into a mummy: a paleoradiological analysis [Uvid u mumiju: paleoradiološka analiza]

Čavka, Mislav and Janković, Ivor and Rajić Šikanjić, Petra and Tičinović, Nino and Radoš, Stipe and Ivanac, Gordana and Brkljačić, Boris (2010) Insights into a mummy: a paleoradiological analysis [Uvid u mumiju: paleoradiološka analiza]. Collegium Antropologicum, 34 (3). pp. 797-802. ISSN 0350-6134

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze possible human skeletal remains within the wrappings of a mummy from the Archaeological Museum, Zagreb, Croatia through the use of the multidetector CT (MDCT) technology. Plain X-ray films and MDCT images of the mummy were taken in both frontal and lateral views. In a single volumetric acquisition of the whole body by MDCT 0.75 mm axial slices were obtained and combined with sagittal and coronal reformatting and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Sex and age was assessed visually using standard anthropological methods. The results suggest that the mummy was of an adult female, most likely over 40 years of age at death. Pathologies observed included degenerative changes on the vertebral column and healed fractures of the lower right arm. Damage of the ethmoid bone at the roof of the nasal cavity was most likely caused by mortuary brain removal practice. Remnants of a resin and an unusual object were found inside the cranial cavity. An elongated metal object and additional three metal "belts" can be seen on the lower portion of the body. All internal organs were removed and thoracic and abdominal cavities were filled with various substances, most likely mud and pieces of linen cloth. Our results show that the MDCT is a very useful technique for assessing the human remains in archeological samples, especially in comparison to the use of plain film (X-ray), where important details are obscured and 3D imaging impossible.

Abstract in Croatian

U radu su prikazani rezultati analize mumije iz fundusa Arheološkog muzeja u Zagrebu. Konvencionalne Roentgen (RTG) snimke mumije snimljene su u dvije projekcije. Na MDCTu dobiveni su izometrijski aksijalni 0,75 mm slojevi te naknadno kombinirani sa sagitalnim, koronarnim te trodimenzionalnim (3D) rekonstrukcijama. Spol i dob određena je na temelju standardnih vizualnih antropoloških metoda. Rezultati analize ukazuju na to da ostaci pripadaju odrasloj ženskoj osobi, najvjerojatnije starijoj od 40 godina. Uočene su patološke promjene kralješnice kao i zaliječene frakture desne podlaktice. Oštećenje rešetnice unutar nosne šupljine najvjerojatnije je nastalo prilikom uklanjanja mozga. Unutar lubanjske šupljine prisutni su ostaci smole kao i neidentificiran predmet. Dugoljast metalni predmet i tri metalna remena uočena su u predjelu donjeg dijela tijela. Svi unutarnji organi nedostaju a unutar torakalne i abdominalne šupljine prisutni su razni predmeti, najvjerojatnije blata i tkanine. Rezultati pokazuju da je MDCT vrlo korisna tehnologija za analizu ljudskih kosturnih ostataka iz arheološkog konteksta, posebice u usporedbi s tradicionalnim radiografskim metodama (x zrake) budući da otkriva puno više detalja.

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