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Mummies

Mummies provide a window into the traditions and rituals practiced by ancient cultures. Modern analyses on their bones, teeth, hair and preserved soft tissues can also provide information on the health conditions these ancient people experienced, as well as what type of food they ate. Here's the latest news on mummies and what analyses have revealed about their lives.

Related Topics: Ancient Egypt, Archaeology,

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The exterior of the catacomb that the Egyptian-Japanese team discovered. It was constructed almost 2,000 years ago at a time when the Romans ruled Egypt.

Magnificent Egyptian Catacomb Reveals Carvings of a 'Worthy' Woman and Her Pet

By Owen Jarus

Almost 2,000 years ago, at a time when the Romans ruled Egypt, a woman named "Demetria" was laid to rest in a magnificently decorated catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt.

Example of the millions of votive mummies presented as offerings by pilgrims to the god Thoth.

Ancient Egyptians May Have Corralled Millions of Wild Birds to Sacrifice and Turn into Mummies

By Nicoletta Lanese

New DNA evidence suggests that Egyptians captured wild birds for millions of ritualistic sacrifices, rather than farming the animals.

A group of researchers used a CT scan to examine the insides of this ancient Egyptian cat mummy held at the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes in France.

Inside Ancient Egyptian Cat Mummy, Archaeologists Find the Remains of 3 Cats

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Scans of the inside of an ancient cat mummy revealed that the 2,500-year-old feline supposedly resting within wasn't a single animal.

The mummified hand of Otzi the iceman, who died in the Alps some 5,300 years ago.

Ötzi the Iceman's Unfortunate Last Journey Possibly Uncovered

By Stephanie Pappas

The mummified body of Ötzi the Iceman was discovered alongside 75 different species of mosses and liverworts, some of which he carried with him.

Cachette of the Priests mummies discovered.

30 Perfectly Preserved Coffins Holding Ancient Egyptian Priest Mummies Discovered

By Owen Jarus

Archaeologists have unearthed 30 sealed wooden coffins with mummies inside at "El-Assasif," an ancient necropolis near Luxor, Egypt.

Cachette of the Priests mummies discovered.

In Photos: 'Cachette of the Priests' Discovered in Luxor

By Owen Jarus

Archaeologists near Luxor, Egypt, have discovered 30 sealed wooden coffins with mummies inside, some of which belonged to ancient Egyptian priests. Here are photos of the findings.

Heads of two mummies that were excavated by archaeologists at mummies at Dakhla Oasis in Egypt.

4,000-Year-Old Mummies Showed Early Signs of Heart Disease

By Mindy Weisberger

Five mummies dating to 4,000 years ago had cholesterol buildup in their arteries, hinting that humans have been susceptible to heart disease since ancient times.

Valley of the Kings discoveries

2 Mummies Unearthed in Ancient Egyptian Cemetery Where King Tut and Other Royalty Were Buried

By Owen Jarus

Two mummies have been unearthed in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, the cemetery holding the tomb of King Tut and other Egyptian royalty.

Bent Pyramid

Egypt's 'Bent Pyramid' Opens for First Time in More Than 50 Years

By Laura Geggel

For the first time since 1965, two pyramids built by the ancient Egyptians, including the unique "Bent Pyramid," are being opened to the public, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.

Dozens of Mummified Mice and Birds Found in Ancient Egyptian Tomb

By Mindy Weisberger

The well-preserved burial chamber was vividly painted with funerary scenes.

60 Ancient Egyptian Mummies Entombed Together Died 'Bloody, Fearsome Deaths'

By Mindy Weisberger

Why did all these mummies end up in the same place?

Stolen Mummy Feet, Arms and More Found Stashed in Speakers at Cairo Airport

By Mindy Weisberger

Egyptian officials at the airport discovered smuggled mummy parts.

The mummies were from individuals of all ages, both male and female. Some were buried in niches within the maze of burial chambers at Tuna el-Gebel.

Maze of Tombs in Egypt Holds Many Mummies Dating Back 2,300 Years

By Jeanna Bryner

The mummies spanned all ages and were buried in various types of tombs, all seeming to date back to the Ptolemaic dynasty, which lasted from 305 to 30 B.C.

500-Year-Old Greenland Mummies Had Heart Disease, Scans Show

By Mindy Weisberger

Signs of ancient plaque in mummies' hearts hint at cardiovascular disease.

mummy madness

Photos: Mummies Discovered in Tombs in Ancient Egyptian City

By Owen Jarus

Archaeologists have discovered several mummies and sarcophagi in two separate tombs near Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt.

mummy madness

Exquisitely Preserved Mummies Discovered in One of Egypt's Largest Tombs

By Owen Jarus

The tomb is so big that archaeologists have been excavating since the 19th century.

Professor Eske Willerslev with Donna and Joey, two members of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone tribe.

North America's Oldest Mummy Sheds Light on Ancient Migrations

By Megan Gannon

A 10,600-year-old mummy found in Nevada is helping scientists fill in their fuzzy picture of how humans first migrated into the Americas.

The remains of tens of cat mummies were discovered in the complex at Saqqara, Egypt.

Tens of Cat Mummies and 100 Cat Statues Found Near Ancient Egyptian Pyramid

By Owen Jarus

Ancient Egyptians seem to have been "cat people," or at least cat mummy people.

cat statues

Purrfect Photos: Cat Mummies and Wooden Cat Statues Discovered at Ancient Egyptian Burial Complex

By Owen Jarus

Tens of cat mummies and around 100 wooden statues of cats were discovered near a pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt. The area seems to have been used for cat burials thousands of years ago.

Airtight Iron Coffin Found in Queens Held a Mysterious 19th-Century Mummy

By Mindy Weisberger

How did a 19th-century mummy in an iron coffin end up in a Queens construction site?