A WORLD-renowned Egyptologist took samples from a mummy being kept in the North-East yesterday.
Dr Joann Fletcher visited the Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, to study the mummy of Irt Irw, which dates back to 664-525BC and was found in a tomb near Thebes, Egypt.
Estimated to be aged between 30 and 40-years-old, she was first unwrapped during an autopsy in 1830 by three local doctors who removed 22.5 kg of bandages.
The autopsy did not find any conclusive evidence as to why she died.
Dr Fletcher said: "The samples we are taking are so small they are hardly visible to the human eye."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article