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Radiological findings in Egyptian canopic jars – comparing the three standard clinical imaging modalities (conventional X-ray, CT and MRI)

Originating from an imitation of natural dehydration processes of prehistoric burials in the desert, the continuously refined mummification procedures in ancient Egypt involved the use of canopic jars, to store and preserve internal organs, previously removed from the body. The aim of this study was to assess organ remains contained in canopic jars with the three standard clinical imaging modalities conventional X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with regard to the specific tissue alterations caused by embalming and postmortem dehydration processes. For this purpose three Horus-children-headed canopic jars from the Egyptian collection of the archaeological museum in Zagreb were imaged. As expected, conventional X-ray and CT provided superior detail over MRI, mainly because of the higher spatial resolution. However, the high density of the travertine, of which the three examined canopic jars were made, limited the image quality of conventional X-ray images. CT scans, in contrast, showed very little artifacts and revealed structures of organ-specific morphology (intestine) of higher density (c. 400 HU), which are very clearly distinguishable from the surrounding embalming material of homogenous density (c. 250 HU). Furthermore, despite of the significantly lower spatial resolution, MRI images provided important additional information. Unexpected pronounced variations in signal intensity coincided well with the structures identified in the CT scans. These radiological findings, are thus highly compatible with the putatively contained organs in accordance to the inscriptions and dedicated deity of the examined canopic jars. A further histological and genetic analysis is expected to confirm our presented results.

paleoradiology, Ancient Egypt, CT, MRI, X-ray, Croatia, canopics

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