Egyptian scientists recently debunked the hypothesis that the ‘screaming mummy’ was carelessly buried. Through the use of tomographers and spectroscopes, they discovered that the body of this ancient Egyptian woman was treated with expensive embalming agents and buried with full honors.
These findings challenge the idea of a hasty funeral as reported in the Frontiers in medicine.
“We were able to prove that the body of the deceased had been embalmed with expensive imported reagents. This, coupled with the mummy’s well-preserved appearance, casts doubt on the hypothesis that the presence of internal organs in this woman’s body indicates hasty or careless mummification,” said Sahar Salim, a professor at the University of Cairo. by the magazine’s press service.
Researchers have been studying ancient Egyptian mummies for years using particle accelerators and advanced scientific methods. For example, a year ago scientists examined the “golden boy” mummy and discovered in the shroud 49 amulets made of various precious metals.
In their latest work, Egyptian researchers conducted a thorough investigation of the famous ‘screaming mummy’. It is believed that this mummy is a relative of Senmut, Queen Hatshepsut’s favorite architect and statesman.
When the body of this elderly woman was found by American archaeologists in 1935, it immediately attracted public attention because of the unusual grimace on her face, which led to the nickname “screaming mummy.”
The grimace and the presence of internal organs in the mummy’s body led many Egyptologists to believe that the woman had been carelessly mummified and hastily buried.
However, recent studies using scanning electron microscopes, infrared and X-ray spectrographs have provided new insights. These technologies allowed scientists to reconstruct the woman’s appearance and analyze the composition of the balms used for her mummification.
Specifically, they discovered that her hair had been dyed with henna and that her date palm wig had been treated with a complex mixture of minerals to increase its strength. In addition, the mummy’s body was soaked in balms containing expensive frankincense and juniper berry extract, imported from Africa or distant regions of the eastern Mediterranean.
These findings suggest that the woman from Senmut’s tomb was mummified and buried with great care and honor. The unusual appearance of her face probably resulted from muscle spasms at the time of death or from the peculiarities of tissue changes after mummification.
