2,500-year-old mummy found at Sydney University  

Archaeologists at Sydney University have discovered the remains of a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy in a coffin that was in storage for 150 years.

The researchers are now using modern technology to study the remains and hope to shed new light on the ancient civilisation.

‘We are about to start a really detailed project to scientifically investigate these remains in the coffin and ask a whole bunch of questions,’ investigation lead Dr Jamie Fraser told ABC.

Researchers are using modern technology such as CT scans to study the artifact

The remains are fragile and tools such as medical imaging are being used when in studying them

An scan of the inside of the coffin

Hieroglyphics on the coffin show it was made for a priestess called Mer-Neith-it-es, however, coffins don’t always hold the remains they were intended for. 

‘A tomb robber has probably come in and rooted all the way through trying to find jewels and amulets,’ Dr Fraser said.

Egyptologist Connie Lord, who is also on the research team said, ‘Little by little this excavation is really telling us more about the person in the coffin and hopefully give it some dignity that it lost when in ancient times it was looted so badly.’

In the meantime, Mer-Neith-it-es’ coffin, along with three others owned by the Nicholson Museum, will be exhibited in a new museum on the university grounds.

Hieroglyphics on the coffin show it was made for a priestess called Mer-Neith-it-es

‘A tomb robber has probably come in and rooted all the way through trying to find jewels and amulets,’ Dr Fraser said

‘We are about to start a really detailed project to scientifically investigate these remains in the coffin and ask a whole bunch of questions,’ investigation lead Dr Jamie Fraser said

The coffin along with three others owned by the Nicholson Museum, will be exhibited in a new museum on the university grounds