X-rays unmask mummy's face, virtually, page 1

A three thousand year old man has his face in photo's again, even though it is still under wraps. His face has been modeled, using special CAT scans and without unwrapping his bandages, Italian researchers said on Wednesday.

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The reconstruction was detailed enough to show the man, called Harwa, was 45 when he died and had a mole on his left temple, the researchers said.

They used a method called multidetector computed tomography or MDCT, which employs computer-enhanced X-rays to create three-dimensional images.

"The only other way to have gotten the information we got from MDCT would have been to unwrap, destroy and otherwise alter the conservation of the bandages and the mummy," said Dr. Federico Cesarani of the Struttura Operativa Complessa di Radiodiagnostica in Asti, Italy.

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In a September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, it was said the technique can be useful in criminal forensics, anthropology and medicine.

This technology can be used by police to identify bodies. Anthropologists to learn more about individuals in ancient societies and medicine can learn about the diseases that afflicted ancient peoples

This technology is very much a break-through for modern researchers.

The researches who revealed this mummy did have to do some guess work. They had to guess the colour, length of his hair, and also how much fat he has on his face. Fat does not leave marks on the skull like muscle does.

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[edit on 8-10-2004 by ZeddicusZulZorander]