Computed Tomography-Detected Paleopathologies in Ancient Egyptian Mummies

Area of Science:

• Paleoradiology
• Egyptology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) has been used to analyze mummies since the 1970s.
• A systematic review of published CT-based mummy analyses has not been previously performed.
• This study aims to summarize artificial changes and paleopathologies identified in CT scans of ancient Egyptian mummies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize artificial changes and detectable paleopathologies in ancient Egyptian mummies using CT data.
• To analyze trends and common findings in CT-based mummy studies published between 1973 and 2013.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of the PubMed database for CT analyses of mummies (ancient Egypt to Greco-Roman period, up to 700 AD).
• Inclusion of publications from 1973 to 2013.
• Descriptive data analysis of identified publications and reported findings.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 47 publications reporting on 189 mummies.
• Common artificial changes include nasal bone destruction and abdominal incisions.
• Frequently reported paleopathologies include dental/jaw issues (n=42), degenerative bone changes (n=39), and arteriosclerosis (n=36).
• Traumatic fractures (n=16) and other diseases were less common; cause of death rarely detectable.

Conclusions:

• CT analysis standards and documentation have evolved, impacting interpretability.
• Preserved teeth and jaws in mummies offer insights into diet and personal circumstances.
• While CT can reveal clues to the cause of death, artificial mummification changes can lead to misinterpretation.