Appearance and Reality in Ancient Egyptian Votive Animal Mummies

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Context of ResearchIn ancient Egypt animals were mummified in their millions as votive offerings or 'gifts for the gods'. Our understanding of the role and function of these animal offerings relies on our ability to interpret the material remains accurately. Previous research on animal mummies has been mainly species-specific or involved individual collections; however, recent work by the research team at Manchester has adopted an interdisciplinary approach. In contrast to human mummies that were preserved for a continued existence in the afterlife, these animal mummies are best understood in the light of the intentions of the ancient religious officials, who created votive offerings as a means of communication between the earthly and the divine worlds. High-resolution non-invasive imaging, including radiography (X-ray) and computed tomography (CT) are powerful techniques for investigating the contents of wrapped mummy bundles without causing damage. Clinical imaging techniques have been successfully applied by our research group to over 300 animal mummies during the course of a Research Project Grant funded by the Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2013-143). This highlighted that a complete animal skeleton is present in less than half of the specimens studied. Instead, the majority of these mummies appear to have been constructed from partial animal remains (of one or more than one individual, or in some cases human remains) from non-skeletal animal material (feathers, egg shell), or from non-animal material (mud, vegetable matter, etc.). Irrespective of the contents, the bundles were carefully wrapped in linen and often given highly decorated exteriors before being deposited in sacred areas. These votive animal mummy bundles containing anything other than a complete animal body have sometimes been interpreted as 'fakes', implying a deliberate attempt to deceive the purchaser; however, this explanation has never been tested.Aims and ObjectivesThe overall aim of this proposal is to investigate the varying correlation between the external appearance and the actual contents of wrapped votive animal mummies by answering the following three research questions (RQs):-RQ1: Can mummy bundles containing anything other than a complete animal body be classified as 'fakes'?RQ2: Were some of these partial- and pseudo-mummies equally effective as votive offerings regardless of their actual contents?RQ3: Were partial- and pseudo-mummies intended to serve a different votive function?We will answer these questions using the following techniques:-- Visual analysis of the exterior of mummy bundles to assess the sophistication of embalming, wrapping and decorative treatment. Did this vary depending on the contents?- Non-invasive imaging techniques (clinical and industrial) combined with optimised CT protocols and sophisticated 3D software manipulation methods will improve our identification of materials included within mummy bundles. - Imaging data and 3D replicas will be studied using zooarchaeological comparison techniques to identify anomalies 'hidden' within wrapped bundles.- Historic sources from the Ptolemaic-Roman periods (c.332BC-AD395) will be collated and studied, to corroborate the scientific findings.Potential Applications and BenefitsThe results of the project will benefit researchers in the fields of Egyptology, zooarchaeology, imaging science, papyrology and museology through the interdisciplinary analysis of a substantial dataset and a novel methodology for its study. The strong and enduring public and broadcast media interest in the history, culture and people of ancient Egypt will help to generate extensive opportunities for outreach and engagement with public audiences. The project team have a strong record of public engagement through their regular holding of study days to disseminate recent research findings and their close involvement with museum exhibitions and broadcast media.