Existing comment:
A Womb with a View:
Who was the Lemon Grove Mummy? Direct observation indicated that the mummy was female and possibly pregnant.
CAT scans of the mummy confirmed that she was 7-8 months pregnant at the time of her death. Skull bones and ribs of the fetus can be seen.
Her hip and pelvic bones were dislocated -- perhaps from a fall or simply by the weight of time.
To "see inside" the mummy without harming her, 38 CAT scans were taken by scientists.
Other Research Methods and Tools:
Scientists who examined the Lemon Grove Mummy employed many scientific methods and tools to learn about her and her culture:
Carbon-14 dating: She lived around AD 1040-1260.
Radiographs (X-rays): She was about 5 feet 2 inches tall.
Blood typing of tissue: Her blood type was "O", the most common type in Mexican populations.
Hair follicle analysis: She probably suffered from acute protein-calorie malnutrition.
Scanning electron microscope: Fibers used in her string skirt are hemp; her anklets are cotton. Her hair ornament is made of nollina, a yucca-like plant. |