Prepared for Eternity: A study of human embalming techniques in ancient Egypt using computerised tomography scans of mummies

This publication brings together personal analyses of sixty CT scans of ancient Egyptian human mummies collected from many museums throughout the UK and continental Europe. The effect is that of performing ‘virtual autopsies’ (‘virtopsies’) allowing techniques of mummification to be examined. The historical age of the mummies ranges from the Middle Kingdom to the Roman Period. Several new observations are made regarding the preparation of mummies and confirmation of previously described themes is tempered by the observation of variations probably indicating individual workshop practices. The work presents a springboard for further detailed research on the subject. About the Author: Robert Loynes is an Orthopaedic Surgeon who, after retirement, carried out the research described in this publication and was subsequently awarded a PhD in Egyptology. His lifelong interest in Egyptology and a lifetime career using medical images fired his passion for the subject of mummy research specifically using CT scans as a tool.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction Chapter Two: Methods Chapter Three: Results – General Chapter Four: Results – The Head Chapter Five: Results – The Trunk Chapter Six: Results - Treatment of the skin, subcutaneous tissues and position of the arms Chapter Seven: Results related to Demographics and Palaeopathology Chapter Eight: Discussion of mummification techniques related to era, geographic location and age at death Chapter Nine: Discussion of specific mummification techniques Chapter Ten: Conclusions Bibliography Appendix I: Museums and other institutions contacted

Robert Loynes is an Orthopaedic Surgeon who, after retirement, carried out the research described in this publication and was subsequently awarded a PhD in Egyptology. His lifelong interest in Egyptology and a lifetime career using medical images fired his passion for the subject of mummy research specifically using CT scans as a tool.