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Show THE FORUM - MARCH 13 27,2013 ANCIENT SECRETS REVEALED "Mummies of the World: the Exhibition" arrives at The Leonardo Graham Beckstead Staff Reporter f ld Never has a dead baby been more intriguing. The Egyptian Child is the first 2000-year-o- among many fascinating mysteries presented at the highly acclaimed Mummies of the World: The Exhibition. The Leonardo, downtown Salt Lake Citys premiere museum of art, science, and technology, has acquired the exhibit from Feb. 16 to May 27. At first glance, the tiny package of mummified remains trapped behind a thick, moisture-controllacrylic be to glass display appears large for But infant an enough only modem technology reveals the secrets beneath the linen, telling quite a different story. This Egyptian child was not an infant, but rather three to four years old at the estimated time of death around 20 B.C. Its legs were broken postmortem and placed parallel to the arms underneath the wrappings for unknown reasons. Mummies of the World is the , largest collection of mummies ever of Inc ed non-intrusi- ve assembled for public viewing. So far, the response from locals has been overwhelmingly positive. This is the seventh city this exhibit has traveled to. Weve had the most successful opening weekend of any city, including Los Angeles, San Antonio, and San Francisco, said communications for Leonardo. the representative This exhibition challenges the traditional understanding of mummies solely as relics of ancient Egyptian culture and society. Mummies of the World contains specimens from Asia, Europe, South America, and Bryton Sampson, Pacific island cultures. Sampson said, There are so many different branches of science that come together in Mummies of the World. Theres the anthropological nature of it, and then the modem science and technology that allows us to examine these mummies has really only become available in the past few years. Theres a lot to learn from both sides. The exhibit emphasizes that a dead body is classified as a mummy only when soft tissue such as skin, hair or muscle, is preserved after the decomposition process is halted by a variety of techniques and circum- -. stances. , Mummies of the World houses carefully maintained mummified remains of humans and animals from all over the world, remarkably by both natural causes rituals. From terriand man-mafying Argentinian howler monkeys to miniature human fetuses, each tell. mummy has a unique story to well-preserv- de ed The sarcophagus of this Egyptian mummy reveals The project began in 2004, at the m Museum in Man-heiGermany. Twenty delicate human mummies and numerous artifacts that were once thought lost Reiss-Engelho- m, during World War II were discovered in one of the museums underground storage vaults. Those subjects, along with many others donated from 21 European research institutions, have been stud- ied extensively using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, DNA analysis, CT scans, radiocarbon dating, and other processes that would have been impossible in an earlier century. The scientists have used that technology to uncover unexpected and enlightening insights. The display South American Woman with Two Children appears to be a mummified version of its tide. Yet carbon dating reveals that both of the children may not belong Peruvian woman. to the The first child, located near the abdomen, could have been next to the mother at approximately the same time as her death. But the presence of the second child, headless and limbless, has been dated to approximately 200 years after the death of its supposed mother and sibling. By telling these stories, Mummies of theWorld demonstrates the hidden value of studying ancient history. The thorough examination of bodies provides researchlong-dea- d ers with a clearer understanding of ancient culture, religion, diet, genetic connections, class structure and full-gro- that he belonged to a high-lev- el socioeconomic class. Indeed, ancient mummified remains may even offer an avenue for further preserving life in contemporary society. The bodies of the Orlovits, a Phil Plait family of naturally preserved Hungarian mummies on display in the exhibit, are a unique opportunity to examine Death From the Skies! the evolution of antibiotic-resista- nt diseases such as tuberculosis over the centuries. author of at Clark Planetarium Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Sampson said, Once this exhibit is done touring the US all of the mummies will go their separate ways. This is really the only time youll ever be able to see as many in one place. Though a rather macabre affair, Mummies of theWorld is an exhibit well worth the ticket price. Comfortably residing in the intersection between art, science, and technology, this is sure to fascinate visitors from all walks of life. wn Mummies of the World: The Exhibition at The Leonardo (209 East 500 South) from Feb.16 -- May27. Special Ticket Price $20person Tickets: $22.50 (adults 18-6- 4), $19.50 (seniors 65 , youths 13-- 1 and students and military with and valid ID), $18 (children groups of 15 or more). Available at 7, 3-- 12 theleonardo. org or at The Leonardo. Students, faculty, and staff must have current school i.d. Regularly $30. Use this QR code to find out more or buy tickets. Questions contact cmalaretslco.org |
