In perhaps the spookiest archaeological finding of the year so far, Egyptian researchers have unravelled the mysteries surrounding the infamous 'Screaming Woman' mummy, discovered nearly 90 years ago in Luxor, Egypt.
The mummy, known for its haunting open-mouthed expression, was found in 1935 during an expedition led by the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Now, using cutting-edge technology, scientists have peered into the past, revealing surprising details about the woman's life, death and mummification process.
Dr Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital of Cairo University, led the research team. Using CT scans, scanning electron microscopy and other high-tech kit to virtually dissect the remains, they've painted a vivid picture of the woman behind the mummy.
Despite the presence of internal organs including the brain – typically removed during mummification – the team discovered that high-quality, imported materials were used in the embalming process.
“This, and the mummy's well-preserved appearance, contradicts the traditional belief that a failure to remove her inner organs implied poor mummification," Saleem explained.
It was previously thought that the presence of the organs and a careless mummification process could have caused her horrific expression. But the new findings challenge that narrative.
The woman, estimated to be around 48 years old at death, stood approximately 1.54m (about 5ft) tall. She showed signs of mild spinal arthritis and had lost several teeth before her demise.
Nevertheless, she was clearly someone of significant status. The researchers found that her mummification involved costly substances like juniper and frankincense, an indication of her importance.
“The tomb of Tutankhamun also contained frankincense and juniper,” Saleem said.
So how did her face end up so contorted if not through sheer lack of care? The authors hypothesise that it could be the result of a cadaveric spasm – a rare form of muscular stiffening, typically associated with violent deaths and extreme agony.
"The Screaming Woman is a true 'time capsule' of the way that she died and was mummified," Saleem stated.
And yet the authors found no obvious cause of death identifiable on the mummy. Often such spasms can occur during violent scuffles or in cases of drowning but there are no indications yet as to whether these played a role in her demise.
Even after 3,500 years, the mummy, now resting in the Cairo Egyptian Museum, continues to guard secrets waiting to be unveiled.
About the expert
Sahar Saleem is a professor of radiology at Cairo University where she specialises in paleoradiology, the use of radiology to study mummies. She discovered the knife wound in the throat of Ramesses III, which was most likely the cause of his death.
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