Scientists have analyzed some Egyptian mummified animals with the aid of CT scans and X-rays that reveals an ancient mystery that has been kept for thousands of years. Apparently, more than one third of the remains were completely hollow and another one third only contains some partial remnants of the original mummified body.
This new study was carried out by researchers from the University of Manchester who carefully examined 800 animal mummies that were uncovered from the 19th to 20th centuries. Scientists have chosen to use methods such as CT scans and X-rays to further investigate and analyze the inside of the mummies without inflicting any damage on the relics. The team studied cats, birds, shrews and even crocodiles.
It seems that mummified animals were highly in demand during ancient Egyptian times where researchers found out that merchants create these faux or fake mummies in order to pass them off as genuine mummies. Some of the examined specimens were also filled with material that are usually found in Egyptian craftsmen's homes.
According to team leader of the study, Lidija McKnight from the University of Manchester, these material that were stuffed into the mummies were consisted of organic material such as mud and sticks, reeds that were just found inside workshops of embalmers that were thought to be associated with these animals but they are not the actual animals themselves.
In the past, humans were mummified with the sacred intention of preserving the body for the journey into the afterlife and thus were highly protected. However, mummified animals were utlized as religious items and were sold commercialy in markets. These mummified creatures were included as offerings during burial rituals.
Some 70 million animals are estimated to be elaborately prepared this way.
During this study, some eight baby crocodiles were wrapped together to form a single mummy that was shaped into an adult crocodile. A cat relic was estimated to be made some thousands of years back where the few actual feline remains were just a few bones.
To date, there are around 30 catacombs that have been uncovered that are dedicated to each animal species in Egypt. These animals were killed when they were young that generated a surprising massive amount of dead animals in the catacombs that suggests an ancient widespread breeding and slaughtering system for baby animals.
These findings will be featured in a BBC documetary called 70 Million Animal Mummies: Egypt's Dark Secret.