Checklist and Scoring System for the Assessment of Soft Tissue Preservation in CT Examinations of Human Mummies.

Stephanie Panzer,Dario Piombino-Mascali,Rimantas Jankauskas,Wolfgang Hitzl,Mark R Mc Coy,Albert R Zink,Peter Augat,Craig Gordon Ruaux

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133364

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a checklist for standardized assessment of soft tissue preservation in human mummies based on whole-body computed tomography examinations, and to add a scoring system to facilitate quantitative comparison of mummies. Computed tomography examinations of 23 mummies from the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Sicily (17 adults, 6 children; 17 anthropogenically and 6 naturally mummified) and 7 mummies from the crypt of the Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit of Vilnius, Lithuania (5 adults, 2 children; all naturally mummified) were used to develop the checklist following previously published guidelines. The scoring system was developed by assigning equal scores for checkpoints with equivalent quality. The checklist was evaluated by intra- and inter-observer reliability. The finalized checklist was applied to compare the groups of anthropogenically and naturally mummified bodies. The finalized checklist contains 97 checkpoints and was divided into two main categories, “A. Soft Tissues of Head and Musculoskeletal System” and “B. Organs and Organ Systems”, each including various subcategories. The complete checklist had an intra-observer reliability of 98% and an inter-observer reliability of 93%. Statistical comparison revealed significantly higher values in anthropogenically compared to naturally mummified bodies for the total score and for three subcategories. In conclusion, the developed checklist allows for a standardized assessment and documentation of soft tissue preservation in whole-body computed tomography examinations of human mummies. The scoring system facilitates a quantitative comparison of the soft tissue preservation status between single mummies or mummy collections.

Highlights

IntroductionBioarcheology (scientific study of human remains from archeological sites) provides an insight into the biological status, including diseases, of past people [1]
Bioarcheology provides an insight into the biological status, including diseases, of past people [1]
Paleoradiology is the study of bioarcheological materials using modern imaging methods, such as X-ray radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and micro-CT [2]

Summary

Introduction

Bioarcheology (scientific study of human remains from archeological sites) provides an insight into the biological status, including diseases, of past people [1]. Increasing interest in the study of human mummies has reached a point where standardization of its many varying features is desirable [17,18,19,20]. One of these classifications is the expression of the degree of soft tissue preservation in a mummy [17]. Wittmers et al [17] and Aufderheide [16] developed a soft tissue preservation system based upon macroscopic viewing of the external surface of mummies across various anatomical segments. Checklists addressing this heterogeneity would be an appropriate foundation for a CT-based evaluation of soft tissue preservation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion