Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. D, 45, pp. 1–8, December 21, 2019 High Resolution Computed Tomography of a Chinchorro Mummy Mario Castro1, 2, Ken-ichi Shinoda3, Hideyuki Takano4, Ryota Shimofusa5, Seiji Yamamoto6 and Kazuhiro Sakaue3 1 Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. Las Condes 12438, Santiago 7710162, Chile 2 Department of Museums, Servicio Nacional del Patrimonio Cultural, Av. Recoleta 683, Santiago 8420260, Chile 3 Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4–1–1 Amakubo, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Pref. 305–0005, Tokyo, Japan 4 Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Chiba Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan 5 Department of Radiology, Sannou Hospital, Chiba, Japan 6 Autopsy Imaging Information Center (Ai Center), Tokyo, Japan Abstract The use of advanced medical imaging technology in the study of mummified bodies is becoming increasingly common, as it offers the possibility of obtaining a large quantity of informa- tion without affecting the conservation of the ancient remains. In March 2013, the mummy of a Chinchorro infant was examined at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan, using high-resolution computed tomography with a 16×0.5 mm detector configuration. The study was conducted while the mummy was on loan to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo for a special exhibition, and sought to gather information on the mortuary technique employed and state of conservation of the mummified body. A whole-body scan was performed with a slice thick- ness of 1 mm and a peak voltage of 120 kVp. The data obtained was processed using different soft- ware programs and enabled the research team to better understand the mummification technique employed, as well as to identify anatomical structures of the face and neck that were hidden by a mask but were important for determining bioanthropological parameters such as age. Considering the complete absence in the reported literature of imaging studies of Chinchorro bodies using high resolution computed tomography, this work offers some initial results and will serve as a reference for future studies that employ this technique on mummified bodies in a fragile state of conservation. Introduction cavities, layers of material from the embalming process as well as anatomical structures (Har- The application of x-rays to the study of mum- wood-Nash D 1979; Hoffman et al. 2002; mified human remains took place just months Hawass and Saleem 2016). More recently, the after Wilhelm Roentgen’s discovery of those rays use of state-of-the-art multidetector computed in 1895 (Fiori and Nunzi 1995; Rühli et al. tomography has given investigators a more in- 2004). Later, with the advent of computed depth understanding of the processes involved in tomography in the 1970s, this imaging technique mummification and allowed them to identify became the preferred method for assessing mum- pathological conditions not visible to the naked mified remains, as it provided information about eye (Gupta et al. 2008; Wade et al. 2012). the soft tissues and body cavities in a non- In the Americas, the use of artificial mummifi- destructive manner, and with better contrast and cation to preserve human remains predates artifi- spatial resolution. It also provided the opportu- cial mummification in the Old World (Guillen nity to virtually remove from the images of body 2004). The earliest artificial mummification pro- cess was developed on the Pacific coast of South © 2019 National Museum of Nature and Science America by a group of maritime and terrestrial 2 M. Castro et al. fishing, hunting and gathering people—the so- called Chinchorro culture, whose members inhabited a vast territory extending from what is now Southern Peru to present-day Antofagasta, Chile (Figure 1) between 9000 and 3500 BP Fig. 3. 3D reconstructions of the head from differ- ent angles. Fig. 1. Map of northern Chile and southern Peru showing the area inhabited by the Chinchorro’s. Fig. 2. The mummified Chinchorro infant exam- Fig. 4. Mask covering the mummy’s face virtually ined in this study. removed. Fig. 5. CT section showing dental development. High Resolution Computed Tomography of a Chinchorro Mummy 3 Fig. 8. A wooden rod running in right arm. Fig. 6. Three wooden rods alongside the spinal column. Fig. 7. 3D reconstruction of the trunk showing wooden rods for structural support of the head and limbs. Fig. 9. CT reconstruction showing dense metaphy- seal bands in lower limb bones. (Arriaza 1995a; Arriaza et al. 2008; Shady 2014; Standen & Arriaza 2014). The Chinchorros are individuals in their society, regardless of age, sex considered to have been the earliest human set- or social status. These practices evolved over tlers on the Atacama Desert coast. For almost time and geographic location, with different 4000 years they employed complex mortuary types of mummification techniques arising from practices to preserve the remains of all deceased complex, well-planned funerary rites (Arriaza & 4 M. Castro et al. Standen 2014). Materials and Methods Although there are several typologies for arti- ficially mummified Chinchorro mummies (Uhle In 2013, the Museo de Historia Natural in Val- 1919; Allison et al. 1984; Arriaza 1995a, b; Arri- paraíso, Chile loaned a “red” Chinchorro mummy aza et al. 2005), in this paper we follow Arriaza‘s corresponding to an infant (Figure 2) to National classification which defines four different types, Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo for the namely black, red, bandaged and mud-coated exhibition entitled “The Great Journey, The mummies (Arriaza 1995a; Llagostera 2003; Arri- Odyssey of Humankind.” The mummy was trans- aza & Standen 2014). The most complex of all ported to Tokyo to be exhibited for a three-month were the “black” mummies; in this type, the period. During its time in Japan, the body was embalming process considered defleshing the examined using high-resolution computed corpse (the bones cleansed and wrapped), a tomography (CT) in order to obtain bioarcheo- reconstruction with white clay and a final paint- logical, paleopathological and conservation ing with black manganese paint. In “red” mum- information as well as to analyze the embalming mies there was partial disarticulation and in most technique employed. This paper reports on the cases the skin was not removed completely. findings of those analyses. Additionally, the head received a more elaborate treatment and the body was painted with bright The mummy red ocher paint. The “bandaged” mummies are According to the records of the Museo de His- considered a variation of the red style where the toria Natural in Valparaíso, the mummy became body was defleshed, reconstructed, and wrapped part of the collection in 1915, along with three in either animal or human skin and then painted other mummified bodies from the same prove- red, while the “mud-coated” bodies were first nance. The bodies were deemed to have come smoked and then covered with mud (Arriaza from archeological excavations conducted by 1995a; Llagostera 2003; Guillen 2004; Arriaza German archeologist Max Uhle, considered the and Standen 2014). discoverer of the Chinchorro culture (Vera 1981). Since the Chinchorro mummies were first dis- However, after an exhaustive review of the his- covered, several investigations have identified toric information available regarding the time- the characteristics and evolution of the mummifi- frame of Max Uhle’s investigations in Northern cation processes developed by the Chinchorro Chile (Rowe 1954), we estimate that these mum- culture; however, imaging studies of the bodies mies, which were found in the city of Arica, were are almost non-existent, with only one published recovered prior to Uhle’s excavations and sent to report on the use of computed tomography to Valparaíso on the way to their intended final des- examine six “statuettes” mummies (Arriaza et al. tination in Santiago. Based on the mummifica- 2003). A few other studies have mentioned the tion technique employed, the mummy evaluated use of computed tomography to examine Chin- in this study has been assigned to the so-called chorro bodies but the results of those investiga- “red” mummy type (Standen 1995a), and as such tions have never been published (Arriaza 2005). dated to between 4800 and 4000 BP (Arriaza and This paper reports the findings in a “red” Chin- Standen 2014). chorro mummy (4800–4000 BP) examined using During the mummy’s time in Tokyo, National high-resolution computed tomography in which Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo arranged bioanthropological, paleopathological and mum- for a radiological assessment of the body using mification parameters were analyzed. high-resolution computed tomography. The mummy was transported to Japan’s National Institute of Radiological Sciences, where an anthropological and conservation investigation High Resolution Computed Tomography of a Chinchorro Mummy 5 was conducted at the New Particle-Therapy time. The cranial cavity is eviscerated with some Research Facilities using a TOSHIBA Aquilion/ clay residue. LB helical scanner. During scanning, the The face is covered by a finely polished clay mummy remained wrapped in its museum stor- mask with eyeholes, nostrils and a mouth open- age box, while a complete scan of the body was ing. These orifices extend from the surface into performed. The images were acquired at 64 mAs the cavities themselves. Thus, this mask recreates and 120 kVp, and axial images at 1 mm intervals the face during lifetime. The mask covers were obtained and later interpreted by a team of approximately from the superciliary arch to the expert medical radiologists at the Autopsy Imag- lower edge of the jaw, and under it, all of the ing Information Center (Ai Center). The images, facial bones are preserved in their correct ana- based on two-dimensional transversal, coronal, tomical position. The lips and alveolar gingivae oblique and sagittal sections, as well as 3D volu- can also be observed under the mask’s mouth metric images, were interpreted at the worksta- opening.