Nasal endoscopy and CT study of Pharaonic and Roman mummies

In ancient Egypt mummifications were first carried out around 3000 BC. The visceral organs (lungs, stomach, liver and bowel) were removed from the body, cleansed, desiccated and placed in four canopic jars. The brain was removed from the body but was not preserved. Exactly how removal of the brain was accomplished is not clear. This study investigated the route of brain removal during mummification. Nasal endoscopy was carried out on 20 Pharaonic and Roman mummies. CT examination was performed on 2 mummy heads. In all mummies a communication between the cranial and nasal cavities was found passing through the posterior ethmoids and cribriform plates. The cranial cavity was empty. Our results demonstrate that brain removal during mummification was performed endonasally by trained personnel with a good knowledge of anatomy, using special instruments capable of creating a clean-cut endonasal craniotomy.