I think this is 'mummified' in inverted commas, and in the loosest sense
of the term. The corpses are recovered from dry locations, often warm,
and often with a good air flow. 'Mummification' appears to have been a
consequence of desiccation of the corpse, perhaps aided by aldehydes in
smoke. I don't know of a case where the deliberate chemical treatment
of the corpse has been convincingly demonstrated.
Terry O'Connor
salima wrote:
>
> >===== Original Message From Zooarchaeology is the analysis of Animal
> remains from archaeological sites <[log in to unmask]>
> =====
> >Hi Tom - mummified rats are one of things that 'everyone' knows about,
> >but that prove to be difficult to run down in the, as it were, flesh. In
> >'The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic', Ralph Merrifield mentions quite a
> >menagerie of mummified animals found in buildings, including rats (pp.
> >128-130). These include specimens from London, so I would try asking
> >the Museum of London, and one from Pilton, NOrthants, allegedly in
> >Peterborough Museum. On the whole the rat records are associated with
> >cats, which were far more commonly incorporated into buildings as
> some
> >sort of charm. A cat plus rat were supposedly found behind the organ in
> >Dublin Cathedral - I wonder where those two animals are now?
> >
> >Good luck with the search.
> >
> >Terry O'Connor
>
> Could you please define mummified? Salted and wrapped, or just dried? I
> am working on animal mummies in egypt, and would be interested in
> finding out the gorey (or very dessicated) details.
> Thanks.
> Salima Ikram>
> >
> >Tom Gilbert wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear All,
> >> I am a researcher at Oxford University working in the field of Ancient
> DNA. I
> >> recently read an article in 'British Archaeology' refering to a medieval
> >> practice of mummifying black rats to be used to ward off the plague. I
> am
> >> currently searching for such specimens, and if any members know of
> any 14th-
> >> 17th C mummified black rats, I would be most obliged if they would
> share
> >> their knowlege with me.
> >> Thanks for your help
> >> yours
> >> Tom Gilbert
> >>
> >> [log in to unmask]
>
> Salima Ikram (Dr)
> Department of Egyptology
> American University in Cairo
> 113 Sharia Kasr el Aini
> Cairo, EGYPT
> FAX: +20-2-795-7565
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