Real face of mummified warrior revealed at British Museum

Scythian man ’s head goes on display along with scan showing his features, including moustache, pierced ear and long scarThe real face concealed by a clay mask on the mummified head of a Scythian warrior has been revealed for the first time in almost 2,000 years. The head is on display in anexhibition opening at the British Museum this week along with the scan, made in a St Petersburg hospital, which reveals that he had fine teeth, a ginger moustache, a pierced ear, a hole in his skull where his brains had been removed, and a savage wound, beautifully stitched and healed, which originally ran from the corner of his eye socket to the point of his jaw.Since the real head closely resembles the painted mask, the curator St John Simpson assumes that the faintly smiling mask of a young woman beside him, which has yet to be scanned, is also based on her appearance in life.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: British Museum Culture Archaeology Science Source Type: news