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Mummies hold a certain allure. There’s an enigmatic quality to them that draws us in, sparking curiosity. Simply their existence is extraordinary, but they become even more captivating when surprising findings emerge from within them.
10. A Preserved Erect Penis
Tutankhamun, or King Tut, is widely known as the boy-king who ascended to the throne at the age of 10. What many people are unaware of is that he was mummified with an erect penis. In addition, King Tut’s mummy has other unusual features. His heart or heart scarab (a substitute item) was absent, and his body and coffin were coated in black liquid.
It’s clear that King Tut didn’t die with an erection. If that were the case, it would have quickly perished. Instead, his embalmers intentionally positioned his penis at a 90-degree angle. Salima Ikram from the American University in Cairo suggested that there’s a religious reason behind King Tut’s mummified erection. She proposed that the erect penis was a purposeful effort to present King Tut as Osiris, the god of the Underworld. The erect penis symbolizes Osiris' regenerative abilities.
Ikram hypothesized that King Tut aimed to reverse the religious changes initiated by his father, Akhenaten. Akhenaten had steered Egypt toward the worship of Aten, the sun disc, and was so committed to his religious reforms that he even destroyed the statues of other Egyptian gods. By representing himself as Osiris in such a direct way, King Tut sought to restore the worship of all the gods in Egypt.
9. Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer. It is mainly caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, including insufficient physical activity, overeating, and consuming processed foods. Given that these factors are prevalent in modern life, many people mistakenly believe that colon cancer is a recent phenomenon.
However, a study of Hungarian mummies from the 17th and 18th centuries reveals that the disease was present in ancient times as well. Tissue samples taken from 20 mummies found in sealed crypts in Vac, Hungary, provide compelling evidence that colon cancer existed before the modern health challenges we face today. This discovery could lead to a deeper understanding of the disease and its origins.
8. Dirt
Jonathan Elias of the Akhmin Mummy Studies Consortium conducted a CT scan on a 3,200-year-old Egyptian mummy and uncovered dirt inside the mummy’s head. He also found that the brain had been left untouched during the mummification process, remaining intact within the skull. Elias concluded that the mummy lived during the 16th to 11th centuries BC, a time when the standard practice of brain removal during mummification had not yet begun.
The mummy, named Hatason, is one of the few surviving specimens from the New Kingdom period, making it an important historical find. By examining the shape of Hatason’s skull, Elias suggested that she was a woman, as the pelvis had collapsed and could not be used to determine gender. Thus, Elias made this determination based solely on the skull’s characteristics.
The origin of the dirt remains unclear, as it is part of a mummification technique not found in other Egyptian mummies. Experts are still uncertain about its exact purpose. The leading theory is that different mummification methods were being experimented with at that time.
7. Blocked Arteries
Atherosclerosis is a critical condition where plaque accumulates in the arteries, leading to their hardening and narrowing. This can result in strokes, heart attacks, and other heart-related diseases. It is the primary cause of death in many developed nations. Traditionally, it was believed that adopting the lifestyle of our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors—active and with a diet full of protein and healthy fats, avoiding processed foods—could prevent atherosclerosis. However, a study involving 137 mummies reveals that this assumption isn't accurate.
Greg Thomas and his team at the University of California, Irvine conducted CT scans on over 100 mummies from four distinct ancient cultures: Peruvian, Egyptian, Unangan, and Ancestral Puebloan. They found that 34% of these mummies—47 out of the 137—had clogged arteries. Even more surprising was that the condition was just as severe back then as it is today, which shocked scientists given that these ancient civilizations were considered examples of healthy living.
6. Tool for Brain Removal
Approximately 3,500 years ago, the Egyptian mummification process underwent a notable shift. During this period, embalmers began to remove the brains before proceeding with the mummification. To achieve this, they employed basic tools designed for brain removal. Unfortunately, some embalmers were less cautious and left these tools inside the skulls of the deceased.
In 2008, a Croatian research team conducted CT scans on a 2,400-year-old female mummy and made an unexpected discovery: a brain-removal tool was found between her left parietal bone and the back of her skull. Such findings are incredibly rare, with only two tools ever uncovered. The other tool was discovered inside a 2,200-year-old mummy’s head.
The tool was seven centimeters (3 inches) long and appeared to be crafted from organic material. The researchers speculated that the original tool might have been longer, and their discovery represented just a fragment. They surmised that the tool broke during the mummification process, and rather than attempting to extract it, the embalmers opted to leave it within the skull.
5. S. Mansoni
Schistosomiasis infects around 200 million people annually worldwide, potentially causing damage to the bladder, liver, lungs, and intestines. The worms responsible for this disease thrive in both stagnant and flowing water. They enter the human body through skin contact. An intriguing aspect of schistosomiasis is that the worm species S. mansoni, which is responsible for the condition, has been found in ancient Nubian mummies.
Initially, S. mansoni was believed to be a modern disease, closely tied to urban environments. However, the discovery of this worm in Nubian mummies provides evidence that it has affected humanity since ancient times. This finding was the result of a study by Emory University researchers, which examined 191 mummies from two separate Nubian populations: Kulubnarti and Wadi Halfa. Both groups showed signs of infection with S. mansoni.
4. Arsenic
For millennia, the ancient civilizations of northern Chile were exposed to high levels of arsenic. This was the conclusion drawn from hair analysis conducted on 45 Andean mummies, unearthed from the Atacama Desert region, as reported by researchers from Chile’s Universidad de Tarapaca.
Arsenic is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless toxin commonly found in groundwater and contaminated rivers. Unfortunately, for the ancient populations of northern Chile, this poison was prevalent in the Atacama coastal desert. Chronic exposure to arsenic can cause skin conditions, neurological issues, premature births, cancer, and, in the end, death.
Following an in-depth study, scientists found that 31% of the mummies tested had arsenic levels reaching 2.6 micrograms per liter. Over time, the ancient inhabitants of northern Chile accumulated toxic amounts of arsenic, eventually suffering from its harmful effects.
3. Antibiotic-Resistant Genes
Antibiotic misuse has become a widespread issue in modern times. It poses significant dangers, as the overuse of these drugs can result in serious health complications and contribute to the emergence of resistant bacteria. Although antibiotic resistance has long been linked to misuse, research on an 11th-century mummy indicates that the genetic mutations associated with resistance were naturally present in bacteria over 1,000 years ago, and aren't exclusively the result of excessive antibiotic use.
The individual in question was a young woman, estimated to be between 18 and 23 years old at the time of her death. She was found in Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital, in a fetal position with her body wrapped in baskets, leaving only her head and hands exposed.
Upon examining the microbiome from the mummy's gut, researchers identified several genes resistant to antibiotics. If she had been alive today, many common antibiotics, including tetracycline, vancomycin, and chloramphenicol, would not have been effective in treating her.
2. Remarkably Preserved Brain
In August 2010, Russian researchers uncovered the remains of a woolly mammoth that is estimated to be 39,000 years old. The mummified creature was found in the Siberian permafrost. In addition to the remarkable preservation of its body, the mammoth's brain was in exceptional condition, making it the most well-preserved mammoth brain ever discovered.
After analyzing Yuka, the preserved mammoth, scientists determined it had likely died between the ages of six and nine. Using CT scans, they were able to identify nervous tissue—the key component of the nervous system—and examine the animal’s cerebrum and cerebellum. Unfortunately, the mammoth’s forebrain was severely damaged. However, Yuka’s remarkable preservation has allowed scientists to study the brain of a woolly mammoth, revealing surprising similarities to that of modern elephants.
1. Prostate Cancer
Thanks to advancements in high-resolution CT scanning technology, researchers are uncovering valuable insights into the ailments that affected ancient populations. In one remarkable instance, they were able to detect prostate cancer in a 2,250-year-old Egyptian mummy using this cutting-edge equipment.
The prostate cancer found in the mummy, known as M1, is believed to be the oldest case ever identified from ancient Egypt and the second oldest in the world. The title for the oldest known case of this disease goes to the 2,700-year-old remains of a Scythian king from Russia.
Following CT scans on M1, scientists found tumors in the mummy’s legs, upper arm, lumbar spine, and pelvis. These discoveries led to the conclusion that M1 likely suffered from metastatic prostate cancer before dying between the ages of 51 and 60. This finding further emphasizes that cancer is not a modern phenomenon—it has been afflicting humanity for centuries.
