Data_Sheet_1_Scanning and three-dimensional-printing using computed tomography of the “Golden Boy” mummy.docx

Ancient Egyptian mummies represent an opportunity to learn more about the health, beliefs, and skills of humans in antiquity. A fully wrapped mummy, from a Late Ptolemaic cemetery (c.332-30 BC) in Edfu, Egypt, has been stored, unexamined, at the Cairo Egyptian Museum since 1916. We hypothesized that scanning and 3D-printing the mummy using Computed Tomography (CT) could help in documenting and promoting its public display. CT enabled non-invasive digital unwrapping and revealed a well-preserved mummy. Biological sex could be determined from the presence of male genitalia; epiphyseal fusion and tooth eruption indicated an approximate age at death of 14–15 years. The deceased had healthy teeth and bones without evidence of poor nutrition or disease. CT detected a high-quality mummification process that included brain removal through an iatrogenic defect of the cribriform plate and viscera removal via a left lower-abdominal incision. The heart remained in the chest as a spiritual symbol. Resin was poured into the emptied cranial and torso cavities, and linen packs were placed inside the torso. The Mummy’s external ornamentation includes a gilded head mask, a pectoral cartonnage, and a pair of sandals. CT identified 49 amulets inside the mummy and between the wrappings, arranged in three columns. The amulets have 21 different shapes, including Udjat, scarabs, Ajet, Djed-pillar, Tyt, Placenta, Double-Plume, and Right-angle. CT densities indicated that 30 (61%) amulets were metal (likely gold), and the other amulets were made of faience, stones, or fired clay. The embalmers placed amulets to protect and provide vitality for the body for the afterlife. A gold tongue amulet was placed inside the mouth to ensure the deceased could speak in the afterlife. A Two-finger amulet was placed beside the penis to protect the embalming incision. 3D-printing enabled the tactile and visual study of a heart scarab found inside the thoracic cavity. Findings from this study suggest that ancient Egyptians valued their children and provided them with ritual treatment. State-of-the-art techniques such as CT and 3D printing provided valuable insights and supported the museum display of the mummy, nicknamed “The Golden Boy.”

古埃及木乃伊代表了深入了解古代人类健康状况、信仰和技艺的宝贵机遇。一具全身包裹的木乃伊，来自埃及埃德fu的一处晚期托勒密墓地（约公元前332年至公元前30年），自1916年以来一直未经过检查地保存在开罗埃及博物馆。我们假设，利用计算机断层扫描（CT）对木乃伊进行扫描和3D打印，有助于记录并促进其公开展示。CT技术实现了非侵入性的数字化展开，并揭示了一具保存完好的木乃伊。通过男性生殖器的存在可以确定生物学性别；骺板融合和牙齿萌出表明死亡时的年龄约为14至15岁。死者牙齿和骨骼健康，无营养不良或疾病的迹象。CT检测到一个高质量的木乃伊化过程，包括通过筛状板的医源性缺陷移除大脑，以及通过左侧下腹部切口移除内脏。心脏作为精神象征留在胸腔内。树脂被倒入颅腔和躯干空腔，并在躯干内部放置亚麻填充物。木乃伊的外部装饰包括一面金箔面具、一件胸甲和一双凉鞋。CT在木乃伊内部和包裹物之间发现了49个护身符，排列成三列。护身符有21种不同的形状，包括乌达特、Scarabs、Ajet、Djed柱、Tyt、胎盘、双羽和直角。CT密度表明，其中30个（61%）护身符是金属（可能是黄金），其他护身符由釉陶、石头或烧制的粘土制成。防腐师放置护身符以保护并赋予身体来世的生命力。一个金舌护身符被放置在口中，以确保死者能在来世说话。一个两指护身符被放置在阴茎旁边，以保护防腐切口。3D打印技术使得对胸腔内发现的心脏Scarab进行触觉和视觉研究成为可能。本研究的结果表明，古埃及人珍视他们的孩子，并为孩子们提供了仪式性的治疗。先进的CT和3D打印技术提供了宝贵的见解，并支持了被称为“金色男孩”的木乃伊在博物馆的展示。