MUMMY RESEARCH PROJECT UPDATES
PROJECT UPDATE (Summer 2008)
The Akhmim Mummy Project is currently analyzing CT data relating to the mummy of Shep-en-min, a priest of Min, the fertility god of ancient Akhmim. The CT scan was performed on April 8, 2008 in collaboration with Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. and was carried out with the generous and able assistance of the Imaging Services of Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Fishkill, NY. The mummy has belonged to Vassar College since 1896. The scan is great importance insofar as it can be compared with a CT scan performed on the mummy of the Akhmimic priest Pahat (June 4, 2007), who we know to have been Shep-en-min's father. This may well be the first instance (in Egyptological mummy studies) of a father-son pair being analyzed together through CT imaging. Long part of the collection of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA, Pahat was the son of the priest Horresnet, and the woman (Ta)-Hordisnakht. Pahat's mummy (AMSC-14) is ostensibly of early Ptolemaic date, but shows significant differences from many other mummies of that period in AMSC's data set, particularly in the absence of separately wrapped limbs. Large osteophytes in the lower lumbar region of Pahat's spine and substantial tooth losses and other wear (see image below) indicates his age to be well over 50 years. Shep-en-min appears to have died at younger age, but was laid to rest in a coffin which is stylistically very similar to his father's.
PRESS RELEASES
--Fishkill, NY, April 8, 2008: AMSC cooperated with Vassar College and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in scanning the mummy of Shep-en-min, an Akhmimic mummy of the 3rd century BC. The scan was performed on a Siemens Somatom 4 Sensation scanner owned and operated by Health Quest of Poughkeepsie, New York. Shep-en-min is known to be the son of Pahat, a mummy scanned by the Consortium in June 2007. This father-son pair is possibly the first instance whereby the mummies of related ancient Egyptians have been studied in a single project. Comparison of the scans is expected to produce results of great interest. Coverage occured in the Poughkeepsie Journal and Times Herald-Record. A video of the scan process is accessible through youtube.com.
--Davenport, Iowa, October 25, 2007: The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science has received AMSC-generated analyses on two mummies which were scanned at the Genesis Medical Center in August. One of these mummies, previously viewed as belonging to the 21st dynasty (1069-945 BC) was determined to be a female of 30th dynasty date (390-343 BC), based on its mummification characteristics. The second mummy is a male dating to the mid-/late Ptolemaic Period (150-30 BC), originating from the site of Hawara or Tebtunis in the Fayum region. These mummies are providing valuable comparative data which are helping to clarify the later history of Egyptian mummification.
--Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August 23, 2007: KBS-TV of South Korea began production of a video feature on ancient Egypt and its mummies for its program Science Cafe. AMSC provided technical assistance on forensic reconstruction and interview material for this project. The program will also feature the facilities of Pinnacle Health System, Harrisburg, PA, and the Egyptian collection of the Reading Public Museum, Reading, PA.
--Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 13, 2007: The Louisiana Art and Science Museum performed a CT scan of a mummy in its collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt. St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Gonzales, LA generously provided the GE 16-slice scanner and expertise of Mr. Ron Letourneau, R.T., R. which made this collaboration possible. AMSC personnel helped direct the scan and began processing the information obtained on this fascinating Theban mummy. It is hoped that analysis of this Theban mummy will help in understanding mummies associated with the city of Akhmim (for preliminary findings, see the AMSC Database).
--Baton Rouge, Louisiana, June 11, 2007: The Louisiana Art and Science Museum has asked AMSC to assist in the analysis of the mummy in its collection. AMSC is currently reviewing X-ray records and photographs of the mummy and its elaborate cartonnage elements. This work will greatly assist AMSC in analyzing the mummies of ancient Egypt belonging to the Ptolemaic Period.
--Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 4, 2007: AMSC collaborated with the Berkshire Museum of Pittsfield in the CT-scan based analysis of the mummy of Pahat, recently re-identified as the son of Hor-resnet and Tahordisnakht. The scan was performed at the Berkshire Medical Center, under the supervision of AMSC staff Jonathan Elias and Carter Lupton of the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Berkshire Medical Center's Anthony D. Pasquale, John Gable (Chief CT technician), and Dr. Prakash Malkani, radiologist. Preliminary analysis shows several large osteophytes on Pahat's lower lumbar vertebrae, and losses of dentition on both sides of the maxilla. These characteristics suggest Pahat's age at time of death in excess of 40 years, and possibly beyond 50 years. He lived in the city of Akhmim in the Ptolemaic Period. Analysis is on-going (see image, s.v. Akhmim Mummy Project page of website).--Archaeological Diggings Magazine (April/May 2007 Issue)--this popular Australian archaeological publication will soon include our report on work performed at GE Healthcare (Waukesha, WI) on two Akhmimic mummies in the collection of the Milwaukee Public Museum.
RECENT RESEARCH REPORTS (PDF Format)
AMSC-generated research reports are now available in PDF format. These reports discuss recent AMSC-projects on Egyptian mummies in American collections. All are fully illustrated. PDF copies are available for $35.00 US payable through PAYPAL. Please email requests to: director@amscresearch.com.
2008 Preliminary CT Scan Analysis of an Egyptian Mummy in the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield Massachusetts. AMSC Research Report 14-1 (15 pp.) Mummy analyzed is of the early Ptolemaic Period (3rd century BC) from Thebes. 2007 Preliminary CT Scan Analysis of an Egyptian Mummy in the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge, AMSC Research Report 16-1 (14 pp). Mummy analyzed is of the mid-Ptolemaic period from Thebes.
2007 Preliminary CT Scan Analysis of an Egyptian Mummy in the Putnam Museum, Davenport, Iowa (Putnam 1/AR 21190), AMSC Research Report 17-1 (11 pp). Mummy analyzed is of the early 3rd century BC from Akhmim.
2007 Preliminary CT Scan Analysis of an Egyptian Mummy in the Putnam Museum, Davenport, Iowa (Putnam 2/AR 6-4-129d), AMSC Research Report 17-2 (15 pp). Mummy analyzed is of the late 1st century BC from the Faiyum (possibly Tebtunis).
Other AMSC research articles:
Elias, J. and Lupton, C. 2007 "Mummy Awakenings in Milwaukee," in Archaeological Diggings Vol 14, no. 2 (April/May), 38-41.
Elias, J. and Lupton, C. 2007 "New Studies on the Mummies of Akhmim (2006-2007)," Paper delivered at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, Toledo, OH, April.
Elias, J. and Lupton, C. 2007 "The Social Parameters of Mummification in Akhmim (700-200 BC)," VI Congreso Mundial de Estudios sobre Momias, 24 February, Paper 113.
Chan, S., Elias, J., Hysell, M. and Hallowell, M. 2006 "Computed Tomographic Examination of a Ptolemaic Period Mummy from the Ancient Egyptian City of Akhmim." Poster delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Chicago, November.
Elias, J., 2006 "Gente di Akhmim," Pharaon Magazine, Anno II, n. 6 (Giugno), pp. 22-28.
Elias, J. and Farmerie S., 2006 "L'antico volto di Pesed," Pharaon Magazine, Anno II, n. 6 (Giugno), pp. 18-22.
Elias, J., Lupton C., and Gill-Robinson, H. 2006 "Recent Forensic Facial Reconstruction in Egyptology," Paper delivered at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, Jersey City, NJ April.
Elias, J. and Lupton, C., 2005 "The role of computed axial tomography in the study of the mummies of Akhmim, Egypt." in Proceeedings of the 5th World Congress on Mummy Studies, Emma Rubino Massa, ed. Journal of Biological Research vol. LXXX, n. 1, pp. 34-38.
Gill-Robinson, H., Elias, J., Bender, F., Allard, T. and Hoppa, R. 2006 Using image analysis software to create a physical skull model for the facial reconstruction of a wrapped Akhmimic mummy. Journal of Computing and Information Technology 14 (1), 45-51.
Elias, J. 2005 Traumatic injuries among the mummies of Akhmim, Egypt. Presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology (CAPA), Winnipeg, November.
Gill-Robinson, H. & Elias, J. 2005 Computed tomography (CT) scanning and three-dimensional printing in the analysis and interpretation of an Akhmimic mummy. Presented at the British Egyptology Congress, Cambridge, September.
Lupton, C. & Elias, J. 2005 The Wooster Mummy: Implications of a recent CT Study. Paper delivered at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, April.
Elias, J. & Lupton, C. 2004 The Role of Computed Axial Tomography in the Study of the Mummies of Akhmim, Egypt. Presented at the Vth World Congress on Mummy Studies, Turin, Italy, September.
Elias, J. 2004 Two Akhmimic Women: A comparison of Recent CT Scans of Egyptian Mummies. Presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, Tuscon, April.
Elias, J. 2003 CT Reconnaisance of the Mummy of Pesed, a Woman of Ptolemaic Akhmim. Presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, Atlanta, April.
