Secret Text in Ancient Mummy Cases to Be Revealed With New Tech

The hieroglyphics that adorn the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs are pure propaganda, designed to present the pharaoh or noble person in the best light possible. But scraps of papyrus paper used with plaster to create the decorated boxes that were used for placing mummies tell a different story. From shopping lists to tax returns, letters, and legal documents, the papers reveal the everyday life of a coffin’s occupant. And now, thanks to new scanning technology, it will be possible to read some of the secret texts contained in the mummy boxes.

The BBC reports that researchers in London have developed new scanning technology which enables them to bring out writing that has been obscured over the millennia by the thick glue and plaster that were used on top of sheets of papyri to create mummy cases and masks. Until now, the only way to read some of these ancient texts was to completely destroy the mummy case.

Example of a mummy mask made with layers of linen and papyri. Credit: BigStockPhoto