A new study sheds light on the mysterious "Screaming Woman" mummy, first discovered in 1935 by archaeologists from the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
This ancient Egyptian relic, believed to belong to an architect who served Queen Hatschepsut, has intrigued scientists for decades due to its hauntingly contorted facial expression.
A recent paper published in Frontiers in Medicine by Dr. Sahar Saleem from Cairo University's Al Ainy Hospital and Dr. Samia Al-Mirghani conducted an extensive analysis of the mummy, which involved transporting it from the Cairo Egyptian Museum to Germany.
Using advanced techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and CT scans, the team sought to understand the causes behind the mummy's eerie scream.
The CT scans revealed that the woman, estimated to be about 48 years old and 154 centimeters tall, suffered from arthritis and had possibly undergone primitive dental work.
Despite these insights, the exact cause of her death remains unclear. The presence of her heart, lungs, and brain among the remains suggests that her organs were not removed, which is unusual for high-ranking burials of her time.
The study also found that the mummy was covered in frankincense and juniper resin, suggesting a high-status burial rather than a careless embalming job.
This has led researchers to propose that the open-mouthed expression might be due to a "cadaveric spasm," where muscles locked into place before death caused the mouth to remain open.
Dr. Saleem noted, "The mummy's screaming facial expression could indicate that she died in significant agony, with the preserved pose offering a glimpse into her final moments and burial practices."
