Scan hopes to reveal secrets of ancient head found in attic
Hospital helps experts piece together history of mummified remains
Ancient Egypt met modern medical technology when a mummified head underwent a CT scan at Maidstone Hospital.
The morbid artefact was found in the attic of a house in Ramsgate which was being cleared out following the death of the owner.
It was gifted in a glass case to the Canterbury Museums and Galleries collection, without any further details. It was thought to have been brought to the UK from Egypt as a souvenir in the 19th century.
Initial X-rays undertaken at Canterbury Christ Church University suggested it was an adult female, however a detailed CT scan was organised to learn more about the individual.
Preliminary results indicate that the brain has been removed, the teeth are well worn down by a rough diet and that the tongue shows remarkable preservation.
The team now hopes to create a 3D replica of the head, and learn more about the individual’s past when the results have been properly analysed.
The scan was led by James Elliott, senior radiographer at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS (MTW) Trust and also lecturer in diagnostic radiography at Canterbury Christ Church University.
James, who is an expert in forensic radiography with a background in archaeology, said: “During the Victorian times items like this used to be brought back from Egypt as souvenirs and may well have been passed down through generations to the person who owned it.
“The scan provides a huge amount of information everything from dental status, pathologies, method of preservation as well as helping our estimations of age and sex.
“We plan on using the scanning data to create a three-dimensional replica of the head and possible facial reconstruction to allow a more intensive study of it without exposing the actual artefact.”
Experts from Canterbury Christ Church University and universities of Kent and Oxford, will now attempt to reconstruct the history of the individual.
A CT scan was also carried out on a mummified cat in the museum’s collection, to determine its breed and age.
Ritchie Chalmers, chief of service for core clinical services,
said: “It’s very exciting MTW is involved with this project.
“It’s great to see how modern technology can help bring ancient history to life. I, along with the rest of the trust, look forward to finding out what the CT scan unveils.”
The head is eventually expected to be displayed at the Beaney Museum in Canterbury.