A 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, infamous for its unsettling visage, may have met a gruesome end, according to a team of investigators who believe she succumbed to an agonizing ordeal. The unearthing of this relic lends substantial evidence to a hypothesis long debated, which emerged approximately a century ago with the initial discovery of a mummy.
In 1935, an expedition from The Metropolitan Museum of Art unearthed the mummy of a mother at the site of ancient Thebes, specifically within the tomb of Senmut, where it was discovered entombed in a wooden coffin beneath the burial chamber. In the midst of desiccated wrappings, a mysterious figure lay entombed, her hands cradling a jet-black coiffure and glinting ornaments of gold and silver. Yet, it was her visage that proved most captivating – her mouth frozen in an eternal scream, her jaw poised precariously askew.
In 2020, a thorough evaluation of the approximately 3,000-year-old mummy conducted by Zahi Hawass and Sahar Saleem revealed that the Historical Egyptian lady succumbed to a coronary heart attack; notably, the team concluded that the embalming process effectively preserved her anguish, earning her the moniker “the screaming mummy.” In academic circles, the specimen is referred to as “Unknown Lady A.”
A new study has shed light on the long-standing question of whether the woman actually met her demise under the dramatic conditions initially reported.
“In ancient Egypt, the process of mummification was crucial for preserving bodies to ensure they appeared radiant in the afterlife,” explained Dr. Saleem, a radiologist at Cairo University and the study’s lead author, in an email to Gizmodo. “To forestall any perceived disrespect, they’ve resorted to immobilizing deceased individuals by securing their jaws to prevent the natural post-mortem relaxation of facial muscles.”
“We found the mummified body to be remarkably well-preserved, with remnants of luxurious embalming materials scattered around its perimeter.” It appears that the mummification process was haphazard, with the embalmers simply neglecting to close her mouth.
It’s possible that the woman experienced a rare post-mortem phenomenon known as cadaveric spasm, a localized stiffening of muscles that can occur shortly before death. The analysis reveals that the muscles in question remained contracted for approximately 36 hours, implying that the individual may have been embalmed before the muscles had a chance to relax, thereby preserving her facial expression at the time of death. Due to the circumstances, the embalmers may have been precluded from sealing her mouth in their usual manner.
Researchers speculate that the woman may have succumbed to a coronary artery occlusion, ultimately leading to her demise. In 2013, researchers made a fascinating discovery: 34 percent of ancient Egyptian mummies examined at the time showed conclusive evidence of cardiac issues. According to the CDC, approximately one death out of every five in 2022 is likely linked to a form of coronary heart disease.
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Randall Thompson, a cardiologist at St., said that “the scientific inquiry into various mummification resins and supplies in this study constitutes valuable contributions, with the authors’ methods being both innovative and comprehensive.” The Luke’s Mid-America Cardiovascular Institute’s lead researcher on a groundbreaking study examining the history of cardiovascular disease across ancient civilizations has emailed Gizmodo.
“Though the study’s authors aptly address the reason behind the open mouthedness of the mummy, a crucial gap exists in the lack of direct evidence specifically linking this specimen to their proposed theory or refuting alternative explanations.” “I imagine they’re right, nevertheless. Their rationalization is sensible.”
Thompson cautioned Gizmodo in 2020 that museum curators and anthropologists often construct elaborate narratives around a mummy based on limited factual evidence, with little opportunity for independent verification or dispute.
Saleem’s team reinforced her initial discovery by emphasizing that the embalmers treated the deceased with a sense of respect, albeit one tempered by financial constraints. The thorough evaluation disclosed that the lady’s skin was expertly preserved with a blend of frankincense and juniper essentials, while her natural hair was meticulously treated with henna and juniper. Even her wig received specialized attention, infused with the energizing properties of quartz and crystals. Her lips appeared slack and unfastened, suggesting an ineptitude on the part of the embalmers rather than any sudden shock or surprise.
Not all agree, nevertheless. “With muscle relaxation occurring as the body succumbs to dying, the mouth often lies passively agape,” wrote Gregory Thomas, a cardiologist at UC Irvine unconnected from the study in question, in an email to Gizmodo. To accurately describe the post-mortem actions of embalmers, whether from a bygone era or contemporary times, practitioners habitually close the deceased’s mouth if it remained open upon their initial examination. The most probable explanation for the CIT8’s frantic expression lies in the fact that her mouth remained unclosed during the embalming process.
The cadaveric spasm, an uncommon phenomenon that defies easy comprehension, typically occurring exclusively in the context of forensic investigations? Extra forensic research may also be warranted,” Saleem added. “As a result, further research into mummies exhibiting similar scream-inducing facial expressions may provide additional insight into this phenomenon.”
