Mummy priest's CT scan

The ancient world met cutting-edge technology when an Egyptian mummy from the Royal Cornwall Museum had a CT scan.

Data from the scan at the Duchy Hospital in Truro will be used to recreate a face from what is now just a skull covered with desiccated flesh and skin.
The mummified remains of Iset Tayf Nakht, a priest, craftsman, husband and father who lived more than 2,500 years ago, have long been the Truro museum's most popular exhibit.

The recreated image of his head will feature alongside the original remains in a new permanent exhibition at the museum, made possible by a £233,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Jane Marley, curator of archaeology and world cultures, said the body had been X-rayed in 1969, but added: "Science has moved on and so now we've gone for a CT scan.

"That allows us to get a 3D digital model which can be emailed to the Royal College of Arts, which can make a 3D model of a skull."

The scan was carried out in Duchy Hospital's mobile scan van on Sunday and the model will be sent to Richard Neave, who is an expert in archaeological facial reconstruction. Mrs Marley said: "He'll cover the skull with the larger muscles.

"When you stretch a muscle across a bone it gives you the formation of the face."

Smaller muscles used to convey expression will be added before the model is covered in wax and clay to show the tissue and skin.

"The idea is to actually see what he looked like when he was alive," said Mrs Marley.

"From the X-ray he was about 5ft tall and it's thought he lived to the age of about 65. He's thought to have died in about 675BC, and that's from looking at his coffin."

The mummified remains will be moved to an enclosed tomb area in the new gallery.

The exhibition, called Unwrapping The Past, will explore themes including mummification and the afterlife. About 20 volunteers are being recruited to provide tours and handling sessions in the new gallery.
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