Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium

The Scientific Study of Ancient Egyptian Mummies

 

Mummies are a source of enduring fascination not only as sources of bioanthropological information but in connection with the study of ancient Egyptian beliefs about resurrection and the technical means of achieving it . Research on Egyptian mummification is still in its infancy, but is rapidly improving through use of computed tomography (CT) on Ptolemaic mummies, and those of earlier periods. The mummy CT scan ("cat-scan") is a powerful tool in the quest for new knowledge about ancient Egyptian views of life and death. The scanning process produces important data sets on ancient Egyptian people which is archived by the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium. The Consortium is involved in ground-breaking forensic research on the ancient population of the Egyptian city of Akhmim/Panopolis) as it existed during the Egyptian Late Period and Ptolemaic Eras (525-30 BC).

Educational Outreach and Presentations

AMSC is dedicated to public education about the ancient Egyptian mummies and offers a variety of mummy science programs, mummy forensics presentations and science and art exhibitions related to Ancient Egypt. Please contact Dr. Jonathan Elias, Director, via the links provided, to arrange a talk or workshop for your school or group or to inquire about AMSC's exhibitions on Ancient Egyptian mummies, mummy science, forensic reconstruction, the history of mummy-oriented research, and other aspects of the fascinating culture of ancient Egypt.

 

 

Linen from an Akhmimic Mummy. Spots of resin adhere to the fabric. © 2008 Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium. All Rights Reserved.

3D Reformatted Image showing resin levels in a mummy cranium. During the Ptolemaic Period at Akhmim, mummies of well-to-do persons frequently show high levels of cranial resin (>30% infill volumes). © 2008 Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium. All Rights Reserved.