Scientists peer inside ancient Egyptian cat, snake and bird mummies


  • World
  • Friday, 21 Aug 2020

The head of a mummified domestic cat, revealed by X-ray micro CT scanning that generates three-dimensional images with a resolution 100 times greater than a medical CT scan, is seen in this undated image released on August 20, 2020. Swansea University/Handout via REUTERS.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists are gaining new insight into the ancient Egyptian practice of mummifying animals, using high-resolution 3D scans to peer inside mummies of a cat, a bird and a snake to learn about their treatment before being killed and embalmed.

Researchers on Monday said they digitally "unwrapped" and "dissected" the three mummies using X-ray micro CT scanning, which generates three-dimensional images with a resolution 100 times greater than a medical CT scan. Actual unwrapping can damage and dislodge structures within a mummy.

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