Egyptian Mummies and Modern Science

Description

Egyptian mummies have always aroused popular and scientific interest; however, most modern studies, although significantly increased in number and range, have been published in specialist journals. Now, this unique book, written by a long-established team of scientists, brings this exciting, cross-disciplinary area of research to a wider readership. It shows how this team's multidisciplinary, investigative methods and the unique resource of the Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank are being used for the new major international investigations of disease evolution and ancient Egyptian pharmacy and pharmacology. It also assesses the current status of palaeopathology and ancient DNA research, and treatments available for conserving mummified remains. Descriptions of the historical development of Egyptian mummifications and medicine and detailed references to previous scientific investigations provide the context for firsthand accounts of cutting-edge research by prominent specialists in this field, demonstrating how these techniques can contribute to a new perspective on Egyptology.

'I found every chapter fascinating, giving real insight into the lives of the ancient Egyptians ... The work of the team at Manchester continues to be of great importance and their multidisciplinary approach is now being applied to international research projects on Egyptian mummies and the history of disease in general. Whilst this book will be absolutely essential for anyone interested in mummies, disease or medicine in ancient Egypt, the new perspective that this research brings to Egyptology will be of interest to the more general reader too.' Ancient Egypt 'The editor of this volume is a rare bird, an Egyptologist who has dedicated her professional life to encouraging the application of scientific specialisms to the investigation of Egyptological problems and their resolution ... Rosalie David is in fact far more than the editor, and takes on various contributory duties ... The contents of the book would make a nice course in any department.' Cambridge Archaeological Journal '... the book provides a good overview of the state of research on Egyptian mummies, as seen from the Manchester perspective ... It will be of interest to scholars working in Egyptology in general (students and established academics alike), to researchers working on mummified remains, and on Egyptian mummies in particular, to historians of medicine, and to members of the interested educated public. Studies of ancient Egypt, and its mummies in particular, have always held an interest and fascination for many; this book will be no exception to that rule.' Journal of Archaeological Science '... the results of modern studies on Egyptian mummies, collected and clearly set out in this work, represent an invaluable point of reference for specialists and students alike.' Medical History