Department of Radiology, Trauma Center Murnau, Murnau, Germany.
Institute of Biomechanics, Trauma Center Murnau and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Murnau, Germany.
PLoS One. 2017 Apr 12;12(4):e0175000. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175000. eCollection 2017.
In this study, an Inca bundle was examined using computed tomography (CT). The primary aim was to determine the preservation status of bony and soft tissues, the sex, the age at the time of death, possible indicators for disease or even the cause of death, as well as the kind of mummification. A secondary aim was to obtain a brief overview of the wrapping in order to gain additional information on the cultural background.
The bundle belongs to the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland, and was bought in Munich, Germany, in 1921. Radiocarbon dating of the superficial textile yielded a calibrated age between 1480 and 1650 AD. The mummy was investigated using multi-slice CT with slice thickness of 0.75 mm and 110 kilovolt. For standardized assessment of soft tissue preservation, a recently developed checklist was applied.
CT revealed the mummy of a seven to nine year old boy with superior preservation of bony and soft tissues allowing detailed assessment. Indicators of neurofibromatosis type 1 (paravertebral and cutaneous neurofibromas, a breast neurofibroma, sphenoid wing dysplasia), Chagas disease (dilatation of the esophagus, stomach, rectum, and large amounts of feces), and lung infection (pleural adherence, calcifications), probably due to tuberculosis, were found. Furthermore, signs of peri-mortem violence (transection of the chest and a defect in the abdominal wall) were detected. CT images revealed a carefully performed wrapping.
CT examination of the Inca bundle proved to be an important non-destructive examination method. Standardized assessment, especially of the soft tissue structures, allowed for diagnoses of several diseases, indicating a multi-morbid child at the time of death. The careful wrapping pointed to a ceremonial burial. Within the cultural background, the signs of fatal violence were discussed as a possible result of war, murder, accident, or human sacrifice.
本研究使用计算机断层扫描（CT）检查了一个印加包裹。主要目的是确定骨骼和软组织的保存状况、性别、死亡时的年龄、可能的疾病指标，甚至死因，以及木乃伊的制作方式。次要目的是对包裹进行简要概述，以获取有关文化背景的更多信息。
包裹属于瑞士巴塞尔文化博物馆，于 1921 年在德国慕尼黑购买。对表面纺织品的放射性碳测年得出校准年龄在公元 1480 年至 1650 年之间。使用多层 CT 对木乃伊进行检查，层厚为 0.75 毫米，管电压为 110 千伏。为了标准化评估软组织保存情况，应用了最近开发的检查表。
CT 显示了一个 7 至 9 岁男孩的木乃伊，骨骼和软组织保存完好，允许进行详细评估。发现了 1 型神经纤维瘤病（椎旁和皮肤神经纤维瘤、乳房神经纤维瘤、蝶骨翼发育不良）、恰加斯病（食管、胃、直肠扩张和大量粪便）和肺部感染（胸膜粘连、钙化）的指标，可能是由于结核病引起的。此外，还发现了生前暴力的迹象（胸部横断和腹壁缺损）。CT 图像显示了精心制作的包裹。
对印加包裹的 CT 检查被证明是一种重要的非破坏性检查方法。对软组织结构的标准化评估，能够做出几种疾病的诊断，表明死亡时儿童患有多种疾病。精心的包裹表明这是一种仪式性的埋葬。在文化背景下，致命暴力的迹象被讨论为战争、谋杀、意外或人祭的可能结果。
