Virtual Autopsy: Exploring a Natural Mummy from Early Egypt

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 16/11/2012 - 03/03/2013

A Mummy Revealed at the British Museum

Technology has made massive leaps in the last decade; not only has this changed our everyday lives in terms of entertainment and work, but it has also helped us make significant scientific and medical discoveries.

One such example is now available for the public to experience at The British Museum. By working with scientists and medical experts, the curators have been able to perform a CT scan of a five an a half thousand year old Egyptian mummy. Known as the Gebelein man, the mummy was discovered in 1896, and is believed to have been buried some time around 3500 BCE. He was wrapped in linen and placed in a foetal position to depict rebirth. The Gebelein man is one of the best preserved mummies found in Egypt, and it probably because of the body's direct contact with the hot, dry sun.

By taking high resolution X-rays, The British Museum have been able to take look inside his body and learn about his life and death in ways that were never possible before.

Up until the 3rd March, you can visit the museum and discover all the fascinating facts about this man's life, and Egyptian burial practices.

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