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Digging History

Tiny ancient Egyptian mummy reveals its secrets

The mummy is one of two that underwent a CT scan in Israel

By James Rogers Fox News
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Archaeology team in Egypt find lion mummy at famed pyramid site Video

Archaeology team in Egypt find lion mummy at famed pyramid site

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities said archaeologists excavated the mummy in Saqqara, a town south of Cairo. The Ministry of Antiquities is planning to announce additional details about the discovery at the end of the month. In 2004, the first lion skeleton was found, revealing the sacred status of the animal during ancient times.

A tiny ancient Egyptian mummy has revealed its secrets following a CT scan.

It is one of two mummies of birds from the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Haifa, Israel, which were recently examined at the city’s Rambam Health Care Campus.

One mummy is about 3.3-feet long, while the other is slightly smaller. Both are believed to date back to between 1000 and 500 B.C.

STUNNING LEOPARD FACE RECONSTRUCTED FROM ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SARCOPHAGUS

“The CT of the larger mummy provided uncertain results and additional examinations will be needed to determine what it is,” said Rambam Health Care Campus in a statement. “But the smaller bird-shaped mummy proved to be an exceptionally well-preserved falcon.”

Examining the two Egyptian mummies at Rambam Health Care Campus.

Examining the two Egyptian mummies at Rambam Health Care Campus. (Photography: Rambam HCC.)

The mummified falcon is thought to be around 3,000 years old. Horus, a falcon-headed god, was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. The god was also linked to the kings of Egypt, according to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, and symbolized kingship.

“It was extremely exciting to see these ancient Egyptian mummies enter the CT and to watch as the computer screens revealed what had been hidden for thousands of years,” said Dr. Michael Halberthal, general director and CEO of Rambam, in the statement.

3,600-YEAR-OLD TEENAGE MUMMY DISCOVERED IN EGYPT

Archaeologists continue to shed new light on ancient Egypt. Earlier this year, a 3,600-year-old teenage mummy was discovered in Luxor.

The tombs of a number of high priests were also recently discovered at an ancient site in Egypt.

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