Advanced Imaging of Materials (AIM) Facility, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA1 8EN, UK.
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 20;10(1):14113. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-69726-0.
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.
木乃伊化动物的生死线索可能隐藏在其包裹物之下。非侵入性成像技术的发展使我们能够详细研究它们的内部结构。基于实验室的 X 射线微计算机断层扫描（microCT）和聚焦成像方案允许对较小的木乃伊化遗骸（如动物）进行更高分辨率的研究。在这项研究中，我们使用 microCT 对三个不同的动物木乃伊进行成像。揭示内部结构可以深入了解它们的生活史、保存条件、复杂的木乃伊化实践、可能的死亡原因以及随后的处理损伤。在这些木乃伊化动物制作数千年后，X 射线微计算机断层扫描技术促进了新的研究，揭示了“更硬”的骨骼结构、木乃伊化材料，甚至干燥的软组织。在一条蛇中发现了“开口”程序的潜在证据，以及蛇在活着时保存条件差导致脱水的迹象。对一只猫木乃伊的检查表明，它不到五个月大，而且它的脖子是被故意折断的。还可以根据 X 射线数据确定一只鸟木乃伊的物种水平。通过科学成像对动物木乃伊化的深入了解可以为保护和理解过去的人类与动物关系提供信息。
