Radiographic evaluation of the soap man mummy

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Medical Imaging
• Archaeology

Background:

• A mummified cadaver, exhumed in 1875 and housed at the Smithsonian Museum, underwent examination.
• Historical museum records contained information about the specimen's provenance and potential interment date.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize mobile radiography for non-invasive analysis of the mummified cadaver.
• To determine the earliest possible interment date of the individual.
• To assess skeletal features for demographic and lifestyle information and to verify museum data.

Main Methods:

• Mobile radiography was employed to image the mummified remains.
• Radiographic analysis focused on identifying embedded artifacts and assessing skeletal morphology.
• Comparative radiographic analysis was performed using another cadaver from the same excavation.

Main Results:

• Radiographs revealed artifacts suggesting an earliest interment date of 1824.
• Skeletal assessment provided an approximation of the individual's age at death.
• Evidence of potential idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis indicated a history of manual labor.
• Radiographic findings contradicted existing information within the museum records.

Conclusions:

• Mobile radiography is an effective tool for examining mummified remains and uncovering historical details.
• The study successfully established a more accurate interment date and provided insights into the individual's life.
• Radiographic evidence challenged and corrected inaccuracies in historical museum documentation.