Ancient Egyptian mummified human body and coffin from Faiyum Gurob or Illahun dated 332 – 30 BC

Wooden rectangular coffin made of planks, base only, undecorated & uninscribed. This coffin may originally been a lid for a shallow tray based on other burials that Petrie excavated. Containing the wrapped mummified body of a female child aged 4 – 8. Extended with arms by sides & remains of cartonnage mask with gilded decoration over head and chest.

Radiographs taken of wrapped body c1966 by Bolton Area Health Authority and in June 1975 at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. Exposure factors: details not supplied. Views: Skull – lateral :Skull & thorax – lateral :AP skull & thorax :Thorax & pelvis – lateral :Thorax & pelvis :Femur, tibia, fibula and foot. :Report: :Female child c.4-8 years of age. Skeleton in good condition, no evidence of fractures. Vertebral bodies missing from 5th, 6th & 7th thoracic vertebrae – perhaps due to infection of spine, e.g. tuberculosis, with abcess in region removed with vertebral bodies during mummification process. Transverse radiodense lines (Harris lines) visible in femurs indicating arrested growth of bone due to illness. First and second teeth present in jaw.

Ancient Egyptian mummified human body and coffin from Faiyum Gurob or Illahun dated 332 – 30 BC

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