Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period

Karin Sowada; Janet Davey

Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

A mummified head of a man, NMR.32, was donated to the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney in 1860 by scholar-traveller Sir Charles Nicholson. Little was known about the head until it was radiocarbon dated to 204–49 cal BC. This date was confirmed by recent macroscopic examination and computerised tomography (CT) scans, which revealed further detail about the mummification technique. Of particular interest is the presence of moulded objects applied to the head and eyes, likely made of gilded beeswax. The high level of preservation and care taken in the mummification process attests to the social status of the individual and quality of the embalmer’s art in the Ptolemaic era.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Guardian of ancient Egypt
Subtitle of host publication	studies in honor of Zahi Hawass
Editors	Janice Kamrin, Miroslav Bárta, Salima Ikram, Mark Lehner, Mohamed Megahed
Place of Publication	Prague
Publisher	Charles University in Prague
Pages	1511-1526
Number of pages	16
Volume	3
ISBN (Print)	9788073089818, 9788073089801
Publication status	Published - 2020

Keywords

Egypt
Egyptian mummies
CT - Computerized tomography
Ptolemaic Period
Egyptian rituals

Will the real mummy please step forward: dating ancient Egyptian human remains in Museum collections
Sowada, K. (Primary Chief Investigator), Jacobsen, G. (Primary Chief Investigator), Bertuch, F. (Primary Chief Investigator) & Jenkinson, A. (Primary Chief Investigator)
1/12/07 → 13/07/09
Project: Research

Radiocarbon dating the Nicholson mummies
Levchenko, V., Fraser, J., Jacobsen, G. & Sowada, K., 2022, Speak my name: investigating Egyptian mummies. Fraser, J., Lord, C. & Magnussen, J. (eds.). Sydney, NSW: Sydney University Press, p. 54-61 8 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
The Date of a mummified head in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney
Sowada, K. N., Jacobsen, G., Bertuch, F. & Jenkinson, A., 2010, In: Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology. 21, p. 115-122 8 p., 7.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Cite this

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title = "Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period",

abstract = "A mummified head of a man, NMR.32, was donated to the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney in 1860 by scholar-traveller Sir Charles Nicholson. Little was known about the head until it was radiocarbon dated to 204–49 cal BC. This date was confirmed by recent macroscopic examination and computerised tomography (CT) scans, which revealed further detail about the mummification technique. Of particular interest is the presence of moulded objects applied to the head and eyes, likely made of gilded beeswax. The high level of preservation and care taken in the mummification process attests to the social status of the individual and quality of the embalmer{\textquoteright}s art in the Ptolemaic era.",

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author = "Karin Sowada and Janet Davey",

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booktitle = "Guardian of ancient Egypt",

publisher = "Charles University in Prague",

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Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period. / Sowada, Karin; Davey, Janet.
Guardian of ancient Egypt: studies in honor of Zahi Hawass. ed. / Janice Kamrin; Miroslav Bárta; Salima Ikram; Mark Lehner; Mohamed Megahed. Vol. 3 Prague: Charles University in Prague, 2020. p. 1511-1526.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period

AU - Sowada, Karin

AU - Davey, Janet

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - A mummified head of a man, NMR.32, was donated to the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney in 1860 by scholar-traveller Sir Charles Nicholson. Little was known about the head until it was radiocarbon dated to 204–49 cal BC. This date was confirmed by recent macroscopic examination and computerised tomography (CT) scans, which revealed further detail about the mummification technique. Of particular interest is the presence of moulded objects applied to the head and eyes, likely made of gilded beeswax. The high level of preservation and care taken in the mummification process attests to the social status of the individual and quality of the embalmer’s art in the Ptolemaic era.

AB - A mummified head of a man, NMR.32, was donated to the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney in 1860 by scholar-traveller Sir Charles Nicholson. Little was known about the head until it was radiocarbon dated to 204–49 cal BC. This date was confirmed by recent macroscopic examination and computerised tomography (CT) scans, which revealed further detail about the mummification technique. Of particular interest is the presence of moulded objects applied to the head and eyes, likely made of gilded beeswax. The high level of preservation and care taken in the mummification process attests to the social status of the individual and quality of the embalmer’s art in the Ptolemaic era.

KW - Egypt

KW - Egyptian mummies

KW - CT - Computerized tomography

KW - Ptolemaic Period

KW - Egyptian rituals

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9788073089818

SN - 9788073089801

VL - 3

SP - 1511

EP - 1526

BT - Guardian of ancient Egypt

A2 - Kamrin, Janice

A2 - Bárta, Miroslav

A2 - Ikram, Salima

A2 - Lehner, Mark

A2 - Megahed, Mohamed

PB - Charles University in Prague

CY - Prague

ER -

Computerised Tomography (CT) scans of a mummified male head from the Ptolemaic period

Abstract

Keywords

Fingerprint

Projects

Will the real mummy please step forward: dating ancient Egyptian human remains in Museum collections

Research output

Radiocarbon dating the Nicholson mummies

The Date of a mummified head in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney

Cite this