Institute of Evolutionary Medicine (IEM), University of Zurich, Zurich.
Department of Ancient Civilisations, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2022 Aug;305(8):1938-1946. doi: 10.1002/ar.24828. Epub 2021 Nov 27.
In ancient Egypt, a unique technique for removing the brain was invented as part of the mummification practice and refined over the centuries. This usually involved piercing the anterior skull base through a nasal passage to remove the brain remnants through that perforation. From 2010 to 2018, an interdisciplinary team of the Universities of Basel and Zurich investigated tomb no. 40 (KV40) in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt. Archaeological findings indicate a first burial phase during the mid-18th Dynasty (ca. 1400-1350 BCE) and a second in the 22nd to 25th Dynasty (approx. 900-700 BCE). Repeated looting since ancient times severely damaged and commingled the human remains of the two burial phases. The detailed examination of the skulls showed evidence of different transnasal craniotomy practices. This study aims to provide a systematic presentation of the evidence for different excerebration techniques found in the mummy heads, skulls, and skull fragments from KV40, reflecting the long period of occupancy of this tomb by individuals of different social classes.
在古埃及，作为木乃伊制作实践的一部分，发明了一种独特的去除大脑的技术，并在几个世纪中不断完善。这通常涉及通过鼻道刺穿颅前底，通过那个穿孔将大脑残留物取出。2010 年至 2018 年，巴塞尔大学和苏黎世大学的一个跨学科团队对埃及卢克索国王谷的 40 号墓（KV40）进行了调查。考古发现表明，这是第十八王朝中期（约公元前 1400-1350 年）的第一次埋葬阶段，以及第二十二至二十五王朝（约公元前 900-700 年）的第二次埋葬阶段。自古以来的多次盗墓行为严重破坏和混淆了这两个埋葬阶段的人类遗骸。对颅骨的详细检查显示出不同经鼻颅切开术实践的证据。本研究旨在系统展示 KV40 的木乃伊头、颅骨和颅骨碎片中发现的不同去脑技术的证据，反映了该墓长期以来由不同社会阶层的个体占据。
