Mummified Fetus: Youngest Mummy From Ancient Egypt Discovered; What Does This Reveal About Ancient Egyptians?

When a 2,500-year-old coffin from ancient Egypt was found in 1907 by the British School of Archaeology, many believed that it only contained mummified internal organs removed from embalmed bodies. But when British curators requested a CT scan of the ancient coffin for an upcoming exhibition, they saw the scanned pictures of a mummified fetus.

Experts believe that the mummified fetus lived for only 16 to 18 weeks of the gestational period, which makes it the youngest mummified body ever found. The previous mummified fetuses discovered lived for about 25 weeks and 37 weeks into gestation.

Astounding Find: #Archaeologists Discover #Mummy of an 18-week Fetus from Ancient Egypt - https://t.co/YLPiXJwopt pic.twitter.com/K6yNrGjbZ5

— ancient-origins (@ancientorigins) May 13, 2016

"From the micro CT scan it is noticeable that the fetus has its arms crossed over its chest," a Fitzwilliam Museum representative described the mummified fetus to Discovery News. "This, coupled with the intricacy of the tiny coffin and its decoration, are clear indications of the importance and time given to this burial in Egyptian society."

The curators found out through the CT scan of the coffin that the mummified fetus' skull and pelvic area have already collapsed. However, its legs, arms and all of its fingers and toes are still visible.

Preserved Fetus Is Likely Youngest Egyptian Mummy https://t.co/PGjjdEfS8D #Science pic.twitter.com/ElPeInY9cc — Zesty Science News (@zesty_science) May 12, 2016

So why exactly did ancient Egypt mummify their dead? Ancient Egyptians believed that a person's soul leaves its body after death but would reunite with it after the burial, Ancient Egypt explains.

Therefore, mummifying the body would allow the soul to find, recognize and return to its body and live for eternity. This recent discovery of the mummified fetus shows that the ancient Egyptians believed that a soul already exists in fetuses.