UMI BY THE NUMBERS NKU SCANNED A 2,000-YEAR-OLD MUMMY CHILD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER. By Rodney Wilson (’00) ON JAN. 17, 2019, NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY’S HEALTH INNOVATION CENTER OPENED ITS DOORS TO A DISTINGUISHED GUEST—A MUMMY, POSTHUMOUSLY NAMED UMI (WHICH MEANS “LIFE” IN NORTH AFRICA). The child mummy was granted a very special day pass from his home at the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) for a project spearheaded by NKU’s Jason Applegate (radiologic sciences), Tom Baxter (respiratory care) and Brian Hackett (public history) and aided by the CMC’s Bob Genheimer (CMC George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology) and Tyler Swinney (NAGPRA coordinator/tribal liaison). The purpose of the visit was to obtain new imaging—both radiographs and CT scans—of the mummy, updating previous ones taken nine years ago. In addition to showing molded amulets held within the wrappings, the scans presented an opportunity to further study the carcass for clues to the cause of death. Scans were then used to create new, 3D-printed replicas of both Umi and his amulets, replacing the CMC’s aging model (see sidebar for more on that). A 3D holographic project is also in development for an exhibit to be built and presented by public health students. Read on to learn more about Umi’s big day out at NKU.
26 n k u m A G A Z I N E // U M I B Y T H E N U M B E R S
60 The number of years Umi resided at the Cincinnati Art Museum. He was gifted to the CMC 10 years ago, in 2009.
radiograph images and
$1,000 The project was made possible by a $1,000 mini-grant from Northern Kentucky University.
axial images were taken during the scans.
43 43 students were involved in the project: 28 radiology students worked on the scans (15 on CT scans, 13 on radiographs) and 15 public history students are creating a special exhibit.
