Egyptian Mummies and Modern Science

Cutting-edge perspectives on life and death in ancient Egypt, focusing on disease identification and evolution.

Rosalie David (Edited by)

9781107662629, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 April 2014

321 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.47 kg

'… the results of modern studies on Egyptian mummies, collected and clearly set out in this work, represent an invaluable point of reference for specialists and students alike.' Medical History

Egyptian mummies have always aroused popular and scientific interest; however, most modern studies, although significantly increased in number and range, have been published in specialist journals. Now, this unique book, written by a long-established team of scientists, brings this exciting, cross-disciplinary area of research to a wider readership. It shows how this team's multidisciplinary, investigative methods and the unique resource of the Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank are being used for the new major international investigations of disease evolution and ancient Egyptian pharmacy and pharmacology. It also assesses the current status of palaeopathology and ancient DNA research, and treatments available for conserving mummified remains. Descriptions of the historical development of Egyptian mummifications and medicine and detailed references to previous scientific investigations provide the context for firsthand accounts of cutting-edge research by prominent specialists in this field, demonstrating how these techniques can contribute to a new perspective on Egyptology.

Part I. An Introduction to the Scientific Study of Mummies: 1. The background of the Manchester Mummy Project Rosalie David
2. Egyptian mummies: an overview Rosalie David
Part II. Diet, Disease and Death in Ancient Egypt: Diagnostic and Investigative Techniques: 3. Imaging in Egyptian mummies Judith E. Adams and Chrissie W. Alsop
4. Endoscopy and mummy research Ken Wildsmith
5. Dental health and disease in ancient Egypt Judith Miller
6. Slices of mummy: a histologist's perspective John Denton
7. Palaeopathology at the beginning of the new millennium Maria Jeziorska
8. The use of immunocytochemistry to diagnose disease Patricia Rutherford
9. DNA identification in mummies and associated material Patricia Rutherford
10. An introduction to analytical methods Andrew P. Gize
11. The facial reconstruction of ancient Egyptians Caroline M. Wilkinson
Part III. The Treatment of Disease in Ancient Egypt: 12. The ancient Egyptian medical system Rosalie David
13. Intoxicants in ancient Egypt? Opium, nymphea, coca and tobacco David C. Counsell
14. Pharmacy in ancient Egypt Jacqueline M. Campbell
Part IV. Resources for Studying Mummies: 15. The International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank Rosalie David
16. Conservation treatment for mummies Antony E. David
Part V. The Future of Biomedical and Scientific Studies in Egyptology: 17. Biomedical Egyptology: some future possibilities and contributions Rosalie David.

Subject Areas: DNA & Genome [PSAK1], Pharmacology [MMG], Physical anthropology [JHMP], Ancient Egyptian religion & mythology [HRKP1], Archaeological science, methodology & techniques [HDW], Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG]