The secrets of an ancient Egyptian woman, known as the 'Braided Lady,' have been revealed through high-resolution 3D CT scans, which allowed archaeologists to digitally unwrap her remains without causing damage. The mummy, believed to date from Egypt's 18th to 21st Dynasties, between 1077 BC and 1292 BC, was examined for clues about her life and death.

Her long, braided hair remains remarkably intact after more than 3,000 years. A significant discovery came from her teeth, which showed heavy wear and damage, likely due to the gritty, sand-laden diet common in ancient Egypt. The scans also indicated gum disease, a fractured molar, and an incisor displaced towards the throat. Researchers suggest these unusual dental features might point to her participation in the ancient funerary rite known as the 'Opening of the Mouth,' a practice performed after death to restore the senses of the deceased for the afterlife.

The mummy was discovered in Egypt and brought to Canada in 1860. The CT scans revealed her body was exceptionally well preserved, with visible bones and soft tissues. Embalmers left some internal organs, including remnants of the liver, inside the body. Dried brain tissue was also found, suggesting the brain was not removed during mummification. These practices align with burial customs for wealthy non-royal Egyptians during the New Kingdom period.

The scans revealed that embalmers left parts of her internal organs inside the body, including remnants of the liver (yellow arrow)

The 'Braided Lady' was petite, standing approximately 4 feet 11 inches (151 cm) tall, and died between the ages of 35 and 50. Despite the detailed examination, no signs of fatal injury or obvious disease that could explain her death were found. Small calcified deposits may suggest a long-term parasitic infection, a common affliction in ancient Egypt due to proximity to the Nile, but the evidence remains inconclusive regarding its lethality.

Scientists digitally unwrapped her remains using high-resolution CT scans, revealing she suffered from gum disease, a fractured molar and an incisor that had become displaced towards the throat

Despite the detailed examination, the team found no signs of a fatal injury or obvious disease that could explain how she died

Consequently, the cause of the 'Braided Lady's' death remains a mystery thousands of years after her burial. The multidisciplinary radiological assessment, despite limitations, enhances the understanding of ancient Egyptian funerary practices and highlights the value of modern non-invasive imaging in reconstructing the lives and deaths of individuals from the past.