| Title |
A forgotten Egyptian mummy head in Vilnius: CT, analytical, and bioarchaeological insights |
| Authors |
Minella, Raffaella ; Semenenko, Illia ; Davidson, Alison ; Girčius, Rokas ; Tamošiūnas, Algirdas Edvardas ; Davoli, Paola ; Piombino Mascali, Dario |
| DOI |
10.3389/fearc.2026.1898083 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Frontiers in environmental archaeology.. Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA. 2026, vol. 5, art. no. 1898083, p. 1-17.. eISSN 2813-432X |
| Keywords [eng] |
bioarchaeology ; computed tomography (CT) ; Egyptian mummies ; mummification ; museum collection ; transnasal excerebration |
| Abstract [eng] |
This article presents the first multidisciplinary investigation of a mummified Egyptian head curated at the National Museum of Lithuania in Vilnius, Northern Europe. The specimen, long neglected and stored among other Egyptian antiquities, was examined in 2025 within the framework of the Lithuanian Mummy Project—an initiative aimed at studying mummified remains preserved in the country. Through a combination of macroscopic inspection, computed tomography (CT), 3D reconstruction, radiocarbon dating and chemical analysis, the research provides new insights into the biological profile, embalming practices, and chronology of the individual, while also critically reassessing the limited archival evidence concerning its provenance. The analysis identified a young to middle-aged adult male showing evidence of transnasal excerebration, dental pathologies, and heavy tooth wear indicative of a coarse diet. Radiocarbon dating of linen wrappings suggested a Third Intermediate Period attribution, as also confirmed by the embalming techniques employed. Chemical analysis identified the embalming resin to be of organic nature and was unable to confirm the presence of bitumen. Beyond its bioarchaeological findings, this study exemplifies the valorisation of a long-forgotten mummified individual through non-invasive scientific inquiry, demonstrating how such approaches can recover both scientific and cultural value from mummified human remains, and contribute to the reassessment of Egyptological collections in Northern Europe. |
| Published |
Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2026 |
| CC license |
|
