Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ATAM is a Division of the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program

How old was the person inside the wrappings?

The X-rays taken at the Large Animal Clinic at the University of Illinois and the CT scans taken at Carle Clinic, Urbana, were examined by a team including a radiologist, a radiographer, a forensic anthropologist, and a local dentist.

The teeth were the first clues. Adult teeth were visible coming in just behind the baby teeth, indicating that the individual was probably under ten years old. An orthodontist confirmed the findings, pointing out an unerupted bicuspid tooth in the upper jaw, and nerve roots that were only partially closed.

Moving down the body, researchers noted open epiphyses (growth plates at the end of the long bones) at wrists and knees. Again, this finding indicated a preadolescent child of about 7-9 years at the time of death. In addition, rib fractures and an occipital skull fracture suggested that the body suffered some trauma--probably post-mortem since no pooled blood appeared at the back of the skull.

The sex of the mummy is still unknown, because the pelvis of the child is not sufficiently develped to determine whether the skeleton is male or female. DNA analysis has been attemped by a Danish team of researchers, but the result so far is unreadable (perhaps due to contamination from the resins and bitumen used in the embalming).

Copyright 1999. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.