Harvard Magazine Article and More

We had a wonderful Panel and Lecture at the MGH Ether Dome last week. Padihershef has a wonderful article in the Harvard Magazine. Please check it out!

Padi Harvard Magazine

Don't forget to also check out a great recap of the symposium that took place on Jan 14th. If you haven't seen Padi and his new case or the new exhibit, make your way over to the MGH Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation.

MGH Panel Discussion Recap

MGH Sends Support

Thank you to all the supporters of the disaster relief in the Philippines-- MGH sends team to Philippines

MGH Team sent to Philippines for support (Photo courtesy of MGH)

Mimi Blogged

Hey everyone check out Mimi's interview with the Peabody Essex Museum blog Connected. Mimi talks about her history with mummies and the Padihershef conservation treatment weekend.

Mimi and Mummys

Some Mummy Resources

Check out these other great articles on other mummies around the world.


Unwrap A Mummy

A museum in Sweden is now offering a great interactive where you can "unwrap" a mummy. This was created by compiling  numerous CT scans and xrays. The exhibit is set to open in Spring of 2014.


Perth Mummy CT Scanning

Just like Padihershef, this mummy has waited thousands of years for a CT scan. There is also a project in the works to document and make an international database of human and animal remains. Perhaps one day Padi will be in the database!

Scanning Animal Mummies

This is a small clip of the Brooklyn Museum's animal mummy x-ray and CT scanning project. This will help museum professionals and researchers learn more about the animals life, mummification process and more.

The 8th Mummy Congress in Rio de Janeiro

Mimi Leveque, conservator from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Ma, will be participating at the 8th Mummy Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She will be writing and giving a talk about the whole Padihershef conservation, CT scan and facial reconstruction project. In addition, Mimi will go in depth about the benefits of social media interest with mummy projects.

Please cheer her on as she will be giving her talk next week. The Mummy Congress starts August 6th and runs until August 9th.


http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/novidades/8o-congresso-mundial-de-estudos-de-mumias

Check out her abstract below:

Padihershef, the Oldest Patient in the Ether Dome at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Gets a 21st Century Re-Examination, MIMI LEVEQUE (Conservator, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA and ArchaeaTechnica Conservation, mimi_leveque@pem.org.

For 190 years Padihershef, the first Egyptian mummy in America, has watched major medical technological changes from his home in the Ether Dome but only now has he become a recipient of their benefits. In 2013, MGH embarked on a comprehensive conservation project to examine, treat and rehouse the mummy and his coffin, under the direction of the Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of History and Innovation.  We hope to acquire as much data as possible about the methods of mummification, the condition of the body and the wrappings, his state of health and how he compares to other mummies of his time and place. 

The project has begun with radiographic imaging, including plain film x-rays, 2 D and 3 D CT scans, done  by a team led by Dr. Rajiv Gupta, Director, Ultra-high Resolution Volume CT Lab  using Siemens Definition Flash Scanner at 120kVp, 350mAs, 1 second rotation time, pitch of 0.5 and a slice thickness of 0.5mm.

The data has also been sent to Jonathan Elias, Director of the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium to produce a sculptural forensic facial reconstruction of Padihershef. This part of the work will require an accurate skull model digitally edited and then rapid prototyped, printed in full 3D volume.

The conservation treatment, directed by the author, will involve a condition assessment and stabilization of both the mummy and coffin.  As an educational outreach, the treatment phase will be open to the public over a three day period in the Ether Dome, MGH’s original surgical teaching amphitheater.

All the data will be shared by postings to the Padihershef Facebook page and a dedicated blog, written by Rebecca Barber of the Peabody Essex Museum.  This paper will summarize the findings and discuss the benefits of social media in expanding the public’s interest in scientific projects.

 (Abstract written by Mimi Leveque)

Mimi Leveque speaking with press (Photo courtesy of MGH photographer)

Padihershef at the MFA

Did you know that Padihershef's outer coffin was once stored at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston?

Thank you Mimi Leveque, Peabody Essex Museum conservator, for sending this great photo of Padihershef's outer coffins at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. This photo was taken at the MFA in 1909 when the museum was still at Copley Square.

Can you point out Padi's outer coffins in the picture? (Answer below)

Below is a another picture of the MFA in the late 19th century.

We believe the outer coffin photo was taken near the windows at the far right bottom corner of the picture. Talk about great provenance for Padihershef.












































 Answer: The outer coffins are on the outside (like bookends) of the other mummies' coffins.

Shout out to Mimi! Conservation with Cotton Swabs

Thanks to Mimi Leveque for her hard work on the Padihershef  conservation project.

Check out this great interview on Mimi's conservation techniques from NPR.

http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190756396/spit-and-cotton-swabs-the-tools-for-a-mummy-facelift

Mimi used many tools and techniques to clean Padihershef and his coffin. Some of the greatest tools for conservation are, believe it or not, cotton swabs and saliva. Yes, saliva is one of the best cleaning solutions conservators can use to remove dust, salts, grime, etc. Because of the enzymes in saliva (the very same that help break food), conservators can carefully remove particles. What a useful tool and significant part of the mummy restoration process.

Thank you again Mimi!

Mimi Leveque talking about the salts on Padihershef's skin

Mimi Leveque observing Padihershef in the Ether Dome- MGH

Stay tuned for future discussions on our blog pertaining to other techniques Mimi used on Padihershef's coffin and textiles.