Scientists Unwrap 'Braided Lady' Mummy With CT Scans
High-resolution imaging reveals the preserved remains of an ancient Egyptian woman without damaging the body.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Historical
Scientists have digitally unwrapped the remains of the 'Braided Lady' using high-resolution CT scans. The mummy, believed to date from between Egypt's 18th and 21st Dynasties, has long braided hair still intact.
Why it matters
The non-invasive technique lets researchers study ancient remains in detail while preserving them for future work. The findings offer a closer look at ancient Egyptian embalming and funerary practices.
CT scans stitched from hundreds of X-ray images produced 3D views of the body, showing gum disease, a fractured molar and a displaced incisor. The scans did not confirm the ritual participation, which is inferred from unusual dental features.
The players
University of Michigan
A public research university whose researcher led the study of the Braided Lady's remains.
The details
Researchers used CT imaging to digitally unwrap the mummy without damaging it. The scans revealed heavily worn teeth, dried brain tissue, and embalmers' remnants of internal organs, including part of the liver.
Timeline
1860: The woman was brought to Canada from Egypt, where she had been found among a cache of mummies.
- 2026-11-07
Findings from the CT scan study were published.
Culture Shift
The study extends the tradition of non-invasive CT examinations of Egyptian mummies held in museum collections. It shows how digital imaging continues to reveal funerary practices long after physical unwrapping was the norm.
Readers interested in ancient history can follow how museum mummies are studied without unwrapping them. The method shows how digital tools can preserve cultural remains while still revealing details about daily life and ritual practice.
The takeaway
Non-invasive imaging lets researchers learn more from ancient bodies while keeping them intact. Each new scan adds detail to how people in ancient Egypt cared for and honored their dead.
Further reading
Explore more on Historical finds from across the ancient world.
