Brooklyn Museum's Lisa Bruno on Animal Mummy Research
The Brooklyn Museum holds 7 human and over 60 animal mummies in their collection. We know already quite a lot about their human mummies, but now Lisa Bruno tells us more about the animal mummy research project at the Museum in an informal presentation for the Museum's '1stfans'. The Brooklyn Museum's conservator Lisa Bruno talks about what an object conservator exactly is (and how to become one), the travelling exhibition 'To Live Forever' which is coming to the Brooklyn Museum February 2010 and the research the Getty Institute did on the 'red mummy' Demetrios - once thought to be a female.
And that's not all, in her presentation Lisa Bruno also gives an insight in the extensive research on animal mummies: humanoid mummies containing both ibis and cat bones ibis bones*, crocodile mummies, fake animal mummies, resins used in mummification, blunt trauma on cats and poisoned crocodiles, economics of animal mummification, metal animal coffins and even a snake mummy!
Not all animal mummies consist of a whole animal, and it's quite well possible this was a question of economics. There were many ways to make an animal mummy, but the most traditional way follows the way human mummies - don't try this at home - are created:
- Make an incision, take out the internal organs.
- Dry the mummy using natron salt (sodium carbonate).
- Seal and preserve the tissue with resinous materials like tree sap, waxes or coal tar.
- Wrap in linen bandages.
Why did the Egyptians make animal mummies? Common thought by the public is that they were cherished pets, or grave gifs that could be useful in the afterlife. But that would not explain why hundreds and hundreds of animal mummies were found in Egypt, and some are actually in dedicated cemeteries. So might the cat mummies have served a more spiritual purpose? Likely, if you see that the mummy of a snake-killing egyptian mangoes was associated with a goddess of protection, and at some point animal mummies were even obligatory to honour the rulers of ancient Egypt.
Animal Mummy CSI: Conservator Lisa Bruno
talks about the animal mummy research project
at the Brooklyn Museum
talks about the animal mummy research project
at the Brooklyn Museum
As more institutions begin to study their collections of ancient animal mummies, there seems to only be more questions as to what these differences in mummification styles and animal species might actually mean.
In the months that have followed this presentation, the Brooklyn Museum's conservation lab has continued to examine and x-ray the collection of animal mummies. They have enlisted the help of a radiologist at The Animal Medical Center Dr. Anthony Fischetti. Recently Anthony and a colleague visited the museum specifically to look at the x-radiographs of the cat mummies. In examining the radiographs, the veterinarians were able to confirm that the animals in the x-rays were in fact cats, and were able to give information regarding possible age. Depending on the size and shape of the skull and teeth, they were sometimes able to suggest whether the mummified cat was more likely a species of domesticated cat (Felis silvestris) or a wild species (Felis chaus).
The Brooklyn Museum also donated two long bones from their cat mummies to the 'feline genome project' run by Dr. Leslie Lyons for the University of California. The project is looking into what ancient DNA can tell us about current domestic cat populations. We're curious, especially as people despite extensive research still not agree when the first 'wolf' was turned 'dog'.
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This is the first I've heard of human mummies containing ibis and cat bones. It's very surprising! Does Bruno go into where on the human body they were found, and any theories about them? Fascinating stuff.
Yes, Rebecca, she does, although not that much. The Ibis mummy she's talking about here, was found above the heart (or where the heart should be), if I'm not mistaken. She tries to avoid theories - saying that it is not her job to speculate - but does seem to think the animal mummies were definitely 'belief' rather than 'practical/pet-nostalgia', and gives a few good examples for that (amongst others the mangoes mummy and a cat mummy that has a stone coffin). Presentation definitely worth watching!
Hi there - just wanted to make a minor clarification, the Ibis mummy that I spoke of in the presentation was re-examined by the vet months after his initial speculation and he has decided that there really is no evidence of a cat bone inside the Ibis mummy. It was aninteresting idea to ponder for a while though. Also, the Ibis mummy that was found over the heart of a human mummy is a separate mummy; part of the Getty Museum Collection. Thanks for your comments Ann. Lisa
I've corrected the blogpost on the cat/ibis hybrid part. I good reminder knowledge constantly evolves. ;) Thank you for the further clarifications, and - especially, and this goes to you as well as the entire museum team - for sharing knowledge and research, and putting lots of effort into making this all so easily accessible to the public! The Brooklyn Museum is the example for how a 21st century museum!
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