The mummy, which has been housed at the Archdiocesan Museum in Wrocław since 1914, was recently subjected to advanced radiological tools, including X-ray imaging and CT scanning. Led by Professor Agata Kubala of the University of Wrocław, the interdisciplinary team was able to study the fragile remains without causing any damage. The non-invasive scans revealed an unidentified item placed deliberately on the child's chest, which experts believe could be a papyrus scroll or an amulet.
The findings of the study have just been published in the journal Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage,
According to the researchers, the object may contain the boy's name or a protective inscription meant to guide him through the afterlife.
"We are still working on the mummy, as an X-ray revealed the presence of an object on the chest – it may be a papyrus containing, for example, the boy's name," Professor Kubala stated in a university press release.
However, the delicate condition of the mummy's cartonnage casing makes accessing the artifact a significant challenge, and researchers are currently developing methods to safely examine it.
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The Egyptian child mummy undergoing a CT scan at a hospital in Lublin, Poland. (Marzena Ożarek-Szilke / University of Wrocław)
Unraveling the Boy's Identity and Mummification Process
The CT scans provided unprecedented insights into the young boy's life and death. By analyzing his dental development, scientists determined that he was approximately eight years old when he died. The body, measuring 123 centimeters in length, is relatively well-preserved, allowing researchers to confirm his sex. Despite these findings, the exact cause of his death remains a mystery, as no obvious signs of fatal trauma or disease were identified.
The imaging also shed light on the mummification techniques used during the Ptolemaic period (roughly 332–30 BC). Consistent with traditional practices, the boy's brain was extracted through the nasal cavity. Interestingly, his vital organs were removed via unconventional routes, possibly through the rectum, rather than a standard abdominal incision. The body cavity was partially filled with textile materials, and there was little evidence of excessive resin use, suggesting a careful but modest burial typical of a middle-class family.
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Tracing Origins Through Cartonnage Art
Although the historical records detailing the mummy's origins were lost during World War II, the artifact itself provided crucial clues. The decorative cartonnage (the painted casing surrounding the mummy) features distinct iconography and motifs. Elements such as rosettes, lotus patterns, and a winged scarab point to an origin in Upper Egypt, likely near the ancient sites of Kom Ombo or Aswan. The mummy was brought to Wrocław in 1914 by Cardinal Adolf Bertram as part of a private antiquities collection, and its documentation was subsequently lost during the Second World War.
One particularly fascinating detail on the cartonnage is the depiction of a rare hybrid deity carrying a mummy. Researchers speculate that this figure may represent Nehebkau, the primordial snake god associated with protection and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian mythology. This unique imagery offers valuable insights into regional religious beliefs and funerary customs of the time. The study's authors note that the cartonnage's iconography is complex and that further analysis will help refine the mummy's dating and confirm its proposed region of origin.
Composite image showing the mummy's cartonnage, the wrapped body, and the skeletal structure revealed by CT scanning. (© S.Szilke / Mummy Research Center)
Modern Technology Preserving Ancient Heritage
The study of the Wrocław mummy underscores the transformative impact of modern medical technology on archaeology. High-resolution CT scans enabled scientists to create detailed 3D models of the mummy, isolating bones, soft tissues, and wrappings layer by layer. This non-invasive approach is crucial for preserving delicate artifacts while uncovering new data, and it echoes similar breakthroughs seen in the study of Poland's world-first pregnant mummy at the National Museum in Warsaw.
As researchers continue their work, they aim to develop safe methods to examine the hidden object on the boy's chest and further analyze the cartonnage's iconography. "This is not the end of the research," Professor Kubala emphasized. "We are still working on the mummy." The ongoing investigation promises to reveal more about this ancient child's life and the rich cultural tapestry of Ptolemaic Egypt. What was once a static museum piece is now being reinterpreted as the remains of a real child who lived, died, and was carefully prepared for the afterlife over two millennia ago.
Top image: The 2,000-year-old Egyptian child mummy resting on a table before examination. Source: Marzena Ożarek-Szilke / University of Wrocław
By Gary Manners
References
Buyukyildirim, O. 2026. 2,000-Year-Old Egyptian Child Mummy Conceals Secret Object on Its Chest. Arkeonews. Available at: https://arkeonews.net/2000-year-old-egyptian-child-mummy-conceals-secret-object-on-its-chest/
Notes from Poland. 2026. Polish researchers uncover secrets of mummified Egyptian boy using modern scanning. Notes from Poland. Available at: https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/03/06/polish-researchers-uncover-secrets-of-mummified-egyptian-boy-using-modern-scanning/
KUBALA A., OŻAREK-SZILKE M.A., SZILKE S., EJSMOND W. 2026. Digital technology in the service of mummy studies. Egyptian child mummy at the Museum of the Archdiocese in Wroclaw, Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 40, s. e00505, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00505.
Paul, A. 2026. Mystery item spotted in 2,000-year-old Egyptian child mummy. Popular Science. Available at: https://www.popsci.com/science/child-mummy-egyptian-mystery-item/
University of Wrocław. 2026. New Research reveals secrets of a child's mummy. University of Wrocław. Available at: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/new-research-reveals-secrets-of-a-childs-mummy/
