AEABB51
Description
A decorative bird mummy bundle with false feet and head with painted facial features. The remains of a linen chest plate is attached to a plain linen shroud, which is sewn up on the underside.
Radiographs show a complete and articulated skeleton of a Falco tinunnculus (Kestrel). Bird is facing to the side of the bundle, rather than upwards as the false head would suggest. The false head and feet are completely modelled from linen. Three fractures in the skeletal remains are visible - likely due to the application of a resinous substance during mummification. Radio-opaque concentric circular layers beneath the outer linen shroud are visible around the bundle from the neck region downwards. CT shows no visible brain matter in the cranial cavity. There is evidence for residual internal organ matter in the abdominal cavity. The bird remains were tightly wrapped in linen before being dipped in a resinous substance, indicated by very dense regions around the body and two fractures in the lower part of the bird remains. The presence of feathers indicates this individual was mummified in toto. Dense anomalies, which could represent artefacts/resin trapped within wrappings (c1663HU (bone would be c250HU) towards the distal end. The outer linen layers are quite thick to create the shape of the bird mummy.
Museum Acquisition Number: 1971.21
Radiographs show a complete and articulated skeleton of a Falco tinunnculus (Kestrel). Bird is facing to the side of the bundle, rather than upwards as the false head would suggest. The false head and feet are completely modelled from linen. Three fractures in the skeletal remains are visible - likely due to the application of a resinous substance during mummification. Radio-opaque concentric circular layers beneath the outer linen shroud are visible around the bundle from the neck region downwards. CT shows no visible brain matter in the cranial cavity. There is evidence for residual internal organ matter in the abdominal cavity. The bird remains were tightly wrapped in linen before being dipped in a resinous substance, indicated by very dense regions around the body and two fractures in the lower part of the bird remains. The presence of feathers indicates this individual was mummified in toto. Dense anomalies, which could represent artefacts/resin trapped within wrappings (c1663HU (bone would be c250HU) towards the distal end. The outer linen layers are quite thick to create the shape of the bird mummy.
Museum Acquisition Number: 1971.21
Date
98-30BC, Late P to lemaic Period
Source
North Saqqara. Falcon Galleries, Gallery 16. Findspot reference: FCO-415. H5-2582[4859]. Acquired by Manchester Museum, 1971 from EES excavations.
Rights
Manchester Museum
Central Manchester University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Central Manchester University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Format
JPG
Language
English
Original Format
JPG
In collection
Cite as
“AEABB51 ,” Ancient Egyptian Animal Bio Bank, accessed May 4, 2024, https://www.mummies.manchester.ac.uk/items/show/92.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.