CHICAGO: Scientists have successfully examined a 3,000-year-old Egyptian “locked mummy” coffin without unwrapping it, using 3D scans to explore ancient burial practices that differ from the mummies typically seen at Halloween.
Researchers at the Field Museum in Chicago used a CT scanner on the coffin of Lady Chenet-aa, a wealthy woman from Egypt’s 22nd Dynasty, which had puzzled scientists for years due to its lack of visible seams and a small opening at the feet.
The scans revealed that there is a seam along the back and some lacing, indicating that instead of being built around the body, the embalmed woman was placed upright inside the casing. The humid Egyptian climate allowed embalmers to soften the cartonnage and wrap it around her body. Additionally, artificial eyes made from an unknown material were placed in her eye sockets to accompany her into the afterlife.
Lady Chenet-aa, who was in her late 30s to early 40s at her death, was missing many teeth, with the remaining ones showing signs of wear, likely from eating gritty food. The coffin is noted to be in remarkable condition for its age.
The Field Museum houses more than a dozen ancient Egyptian mummies and has scanned a total of 26 individuals, including Harwa, a granary doorkeeper. Stacy Drake, the museum’s Human Remains Collection Manager, emphasized the rarity of investigating history through the lens of a single individual.
