Peruvian mummy

3D-Röntgencomputertomographie einer peruanischen Mumie
© Fraunhofer IIS
The mummy, which originated in Peru, underwent CT scans at the Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology in Fürth, Germany.

Date

Late Intermediate Period (11th–15th century A.D.)

Origin

Peru

Research project

Big Picture

Customer

The Linden Museum Stuttgart

Technology

3D computed tomography / expansion of measuring field

System

Tomomat

Technical challenge

Process and prepare huge amounts of data.

Objective

Clarify whether there are actually human remains inside.

Collect valuable data regarding internal burial objects.

As part of the Big Picture research project, scientists used 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) to examine a mummy from Peru.
The huge dataset this created provided an opportunity to test image processing methods and further improve them. In return, the Linden Museum in Stuttgart receives valuable data that can be used to delve deeper into the mummy’s history.

Hochaufgelöste CT-Aufnahmen einer Peruanische Mumie
© Fraunhofer MEVIS
Image: Fraunhofer MEVIS, Bremen, by applying physically-based volume rendering to high-resolution CT images