Spurlock Museums Child Mummy

Back in 1989, the Spurlock Museum of the University of Illinois received a donation of a child's mummy from Roman-period Egypt. The mummy has been X-rayed and now CT. scanned, yet still the sex of the child's mummy remains unanswered, as does the cause of death.

Researchers have found a portrait in the wrappings which appears to be of a male. Also, the mummy has expensive red pigment as part of its decoration, which may indicate the child was from a wealthy family.

Photo: Sarah Wisseman