A team of researchers from the Warsaw Mummy Project believe the Mysterious Lady, an ancient pregnant mummy in their collection, likely had nasopharyngeal cancer, solving a 196-year-old mystery. The Mysterious Lady, also known as the Pregnant Mummy, was discovered in Thebes in the early 19th century and donated to the University of Warsaw in 1826.
Last year, researchers finally opened the coffin for study, and were stunned to learn that the ancient mummy in their collection was actually pregnant when she died.
Based on the evidence found on the exterior of the coffin, archaeologists had assumed that the body was that of a male priest.
Further studies also revealed that the woman, who was the first mummy found in this condition, died in the 1st century BC, making it over 2000 years old.
In their latest studies, researchers have focused their attention on the mummy’s head, by taking X-rays and CT scans and using them to create 3D representations.
In a blog post, the researchers wrote: “Analysis of the data revealed changes in craniofacial bones, similar in activity to nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).
“It’s a type of cancer that originates in the nasopharynx (the area of the nose and throat).
“Additionally, CT images of the bone behind the orbit of the left eye present features that can be identified as the presence of a small tumor – possibly a site of metastasis.
“At this stage of research, we can say that bone changes may be a neoplastic disease, which in this case probably led to the death of this young pregnant woman.”
