Scientists Study Animal Mummies with 3D Technology
2020-08-26
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1Scientists recently used 3-D imaging technology to look inside the mummies of a cat, bird, and snake.
2The research is helping experts learn more about how ancient Egyptians treated animals.
3Researchers said last week that they used a special technique, X-ray micro CT scanning, to look inside the mummies.
4The scanning process permits the scientists to study the mummies while keeping them whole.
5The CT scans were much more detailed than medical CT scans.
6The researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.
7Ancient Egyptians mummified not only humans but also many animals including cats, dogs, birds, snakes and crocodiles.
8Carolyn Graves-Brown, a writer of the study, leads the Egypt Centre at Swansea University in Britain.
9She noted that the three mummies were likely made as "votive offerings," or gifts, to the gods that Egyptians believed in.
10The dead animals were thought to serve as a link between Egyptian gods and living people.
11The mummies had long been in Swansea's collection.
12Experts are not sure of their exact age.
13The researchers found evidence that the snake, a young Egyptian Cobra, had been denied water while alive.
14It was likely killed by a severe break of its backbone.
15The researchers found the snake's mouth open. It also contained a substance called natron.
16These findings suggest the snake had been part of an "opening of the mouth" ceremony, said Swansea engineering professor Richard Johnston.
17Johnston was the lead writer of the report.
18Ancient Egyptians believed that the ceremony would permit the mummified subjects to regain their senses in the afterlife.
19Graves-Brown noted that the finding supports earlier evidence that the act was carried out with animals.
20The scientist added, "We know it was carried out on humans."
21The cat was probably around 5 months old when it died.
22Its neck was broken at the time of death or during the mummification process.
23The bird appears to be a Eurasian kestrel, of the falcon family.
24Ancient Egyptians linked snakes to many of their gods.
25Cats were often linked with the fertility goddess Bastet.
26Some birds were linked with sky gods such as Re and Horus.
27"Like us, the ancient Egyptians used and abused animals," Graves-Brown said.
28"There is evidence from the mummified remains of maltreatment."
29I'm John Russell.
1Scientists recently used 3-D imaging technology to look inside the mummies of a cat, bird, and snake. The research is helping experts learn more about how ancient Egyptians treated animals. 2Researchers said last week that they used a special technique, X-ray micro CT scanning, to look inside the mummies. The scanning process permits the scientists to study the mummies while keeping them whole. The CT scans were much more detailed than medical CT scans. 3The researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. 4Ancient Egyptians mummified not only humans but also many animals including cats, dogs, birds, snakes and crocodiles. 5Carolyn Graves-Brown, a writer of the study, leads the Egypt Centre at Swansea University in Britain. 6She noted that the three mummies were likely made as "votive offerings," or gifts, to the gods that Egyptians believed in. The dead animals were thought to serve as a link between Egyptian gods and living people. 7The mummies had long been in Swansea's collection. Experts are not sure of their exact age. 8The researchers found evidence that the snake, a young Egyptian Cobra, had been denied water while alive. 9It was likely killed by a severe break of its backbone. 10The researchers found the snake's mouth open. It also contained a substance called natron. These findings suggest the snake had been part of an "opening of the mouth" ceremony, said Swansea engineering professor Richard Johnston. Johnston was the lead writer of the report. 11Ancient Egyptians believed that the ceremony would permit the mummified subjects to regain their senses in the afterlife. 12Graves-Brown noted that the finding supports earlier evidence that the act was carried out with animals. The scientist added, "We know it was carried out on humans." 13The cat was probably around 5 months old when it died. Its neck was broken at the time of death or during the mummification process. 14The bird appears to be a Eurasian kestrel, of the falcon family. 15Ancient Egyptians linked snakes to many of their gods. Cats were often linked with the fertility goddess Bastet. Some birds were linked with sky gods such as Re and Horus. 16"Like us, the ancient Egyptians used and abused animals," Graves-Brown said. "There is evidence from the mummified remains of maltreatment." 17I'm John Russell. 18Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 19______________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 213-D - adj.made in a way that causes an image to appear to be three-dimensional 22mummy - n. a dead body of a person or animal prepared for burial in the manner of the ancient Egyptians by treating it with oils and wrapping it in strips of cloth 23journal - n. a paper that reports on things of special interest to a particular group of people 24maltreatment - n. the act of treating (someone) in a rough or cruel way