Mummified human body, adult male, partially unwrapped. Well-preserved, eviscerated and brain removed. Hands placed together over groin. In coffin base of Tayu-henut, songstress of Amun.

X-rayed 14/9/1980 in Egyptology gallery by John Chesham, Industrial Radiology Unit, British Aerospace, Lostock and two of his staff, and Sheila Chesham, radiologist at Bolton Royal Infirmary. Identified as male aged 25-30. Re x-rayed in 1993 by York University. 3D and CT scanned in 2007 and filmed for appearance in ‘Mummy Forensics’ series on the History Channel. See object history file for reports and copy of documentary.

In summary: Suggested age of 25-30, no obvious cause of death. Note signs of possible arthritis in knees and generally very slender appearance – especially arms which are thin even for a mummfied remains. Suggested that this may possibly be signs of a wasting disease. TV programme suggested testicular cancer based upon absence of scrotum and testicles – something shared with other royal mummies of the same time i.e. a family history of cancer? Suggestion that it may have been the body of a priest because of shaved head, fine quality of wrappings and arthritis in knees (could be caused by extended periods kneeling on stone floors). Pronounced overbite, common in high status bodies of this period. In life may have had trouble eating and likely to have spoken with lisp. Asymmetric eye orbits, eyes would have been uneven. Body treated with high quality resins (hence good state of preservation), with clear differnces between plant and animal extracts on opposite sides of body. Possible religious significance relating to north and south kingdom? Facial analysis suggests strong similarities with known New Kingdom royal mummies, particularly Rameses II. This evidence, along with suggestion that it may have come from a cache of royal and priestly mummies found in Thebes in 1880s suggests this may be the body of a minor member of the royal family. Ramses II known to have had hundreds of children, many of whom probably became high status priests.