The mummy’s “screaming facial expression” could be read as a cadaveric spasm, a rare form of muscular stiffening associated with violent deaths, implying that the woman died screaming from agony or pain, according to the study. However, a mummy’s facial expression does not necessarily indicate how a person was feeling at death, the study noted. Several other factors, including the decomposition process, the rate of desiccation, or drying out, and the compressive force of the wrappings, could all affect a mummy’s facial expression. Sahar SaleemOpen-mouthed mummiesThe “screaming woman” had been buried beneath the tomb of Senmut, an architect of the temple of Egyptian queen Hatschepsut (1479–1458 BC) who held important positions during her reign. “More broadly, we can learn much about health and disease from the study of ancient mummies,” he added.

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Persons: ”, Sahar Saleem, Saleem, ” Saleem, embalmers, Hatschepsut, It’s, Ramesses III, Meritamun, Randall Thompson, ’, Thompson, Moses Organizations: CNN, Kasr Al, Cairo University, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, Cairo Egyptian Museum, University of Missouri, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine Locations: Luxor, Medicine, Kasr Al Ainy, New York City, Cairo, Egypt, University of Missouri –