Description
Book SynopsisThe mummy of Takabuti is one of the best known antiquities in the Ulster Museum, Belfast. Takabuti was a young woman who lived in Egypt during a tumultuous period, c. 600 BC. Her mummy was unwrapped and investigated in Belfast in 1835. While the focus of the book is on Takabuti, it shows how the combination of archaeological, historical and inscriptional evidence with multidisciplinary scientific techniques can enable researchers to gain a wealth of information about ancient Egypt. This not only relates to the individual historical context, ancestry and life events associated with Takabuti, but also to wider issues of health and disease patterns, lifestyle, diet, and religious and funerary customs in ancient Egypt.
This multi-authored book demonstrates how researchers act as ‘forensic detectives’ piecing together a picture of the life and times of Takabuti. Questions addressed include – Who was Takabuti? When did she live? Where did she come from and where did she reside? What did she eat, and did she suffer from any diseases? Did she suffer a violent death, and how was she mummified and prepared for burial?
Trade Review'The publication is easy to read and is liberally illustrated. I would highly recommend it. It whets the appetite for a visit to the Ulster Museum to see Takabuti herself.'
Elizabeth O'Brien,
UJA'As a source for information regarding the various scientific methods of investigation ancient mummies, explained in language accessible to a lay audience, this book will prove to be invaluable.’
Hilary Wilson,
Ancient Egypt Magazine'As a source of information regarding the various scientific methods of investigating ancient mummies, explained in language accessible to a lay audience, this book will prove invaluable.'
J. Peter Phillips,
Ancient Egypt MagazineTable of ContentsChapter 1. Takabuti: The Historical Evidence
Chapter 2. Scientific Analysis of Takabuti’s Historical Date, Ancestry and Place of Residence
Chapter 3. Takabuti’s Age, Health and Diet
Chapter 4. Takabuti’s Death and Mummification
Chapter 5. Takabuti Revealed
Endpiece. Takabuti’s Legacy
