The lure of seeing an ancient Egyptian mummy was described as the “key event” for a museum as part of Perth and Kinross Archaeology month.
Such was the demand to hear about the new discoveries at Perth Museum and Art Gallery that bookings were made in advance for a series of talks which were held on Saturday.
Mark Hall, curator at Perth Museum and Art Gallery, told The Courier that events featuring an Egyptian mummy prove to be “hugely popular”.
He said: “This is the key event for us, really. We had around 70 people phoning up to book places and, as the event was held in the lecture room, it was pretty much full. This showed that the event is going to be hugely popular.
“There are various events lined up for archaeology month and I will be giving a talk on medieval Perth.”
Those who visited the museum on Saturday heard from Egyptologists from Dundee, Glasgow and Manchester Universities, who gave presentations on the ongoing mummy project.
Perth Museum’s ancient Egyptian mummy and coffin were transported to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for study by experts from the University of Manchester.
A complete radiographic evaluation using digital imaging and CT scanning was carried out. Imaging of the body revealed extensive damage to the torso but the skull was intact.
The hieroglyphs and iconography on the coffin were also studied and revealed at long last the mummy’s name Ta-Kr-Hb.
The coffin is thought to date to the 25th Dynasty. Visitors also had the opportunity to see the mummy before she undergoes conservation and heard that the collection of Egyptology held by the museum is being catalogued so that the information can be made available online.
Perth and Kinross Archaeology Month will see a variety of events taking place, including a historic walk in Dunkeld, a tour of Balhousie Castle traditional home of The Black Watch and a prehistoric ghost walk in Crieff.