mummified child (human remains)

A mummified body in the approximate shape of a child with a large head. Loosely wrapped. There are small, regular holes in the head area. The radiographs of this odd-shaped mummified body showed that it contained a jumble of bones. It is probable that all the bones belong to one age group and there are almost enough bones to make up a complete skeleton. It is not possible to say whether the bones are from one or several bodies. Measurements suggest that some of the bones come from bodies ranging in age from 15 to 21 months, but it is important to note that there is no duplication of bones and that the variation in these ages would be compatible with one body. It is not possible to identify all the bones but clearly visible there are (with probable age in months): three or four skull fragments, parts of maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) with some teeth in situ, numerous loose teeth, several vertebrae, ribs, humerous (20) and tibia (19). The mandible shows erupted diciduous (milk teeth) molars (d and e), and a permanent first molar (tooth number 6), apparently unerupted and still within its crypt. From the angle of the radiograph, it is impossible to tell the degree of eruption of the second deciduous molar, but the age may be estimated as between 18 and 30 months, which correlates with the estimates of age from the long bones.