Perth Museum is unveiling a new exhibition that sheds light on the origins of the Ta-Kr-Hb mummy, connecting it to the ancient Kingdom of Kush in present-day Sudan. The sarcophagus housing this ancient Egyptian mummy has been a treasured item at the museum since it became part of the Scottish collection in 1936. Now, thanks to a stunning digital reconstruction, the face of the woman mummified within is being brought to life.
Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist, who was instrumental in the reconstruction, noted that the skull shape diverges from the typical characteristics associated with ancient Egyptians. “The skull shape doesn’t look like any of the ancient Egyptians that I’ve seen before,” he remarked. “Kemetic skulls usually have long, narrow craniums, prominent, narrow noses, and elongated faces.”
Rynn explains that while reconstructing the face, there’s no artistic freedom until the final stage when realistic textures and colors are applied. He sees a strong likelihood that the woman was black, aligning with the rich history and archaeology of the region.
The hieroglyphics on the sarcophagus reveal that the woman was named “Ta-Kr-Hb” or “Takerheb,” believed to have been a priestess or a princess who lived during the 25th to 26th dynasty, roughly 760-525 BC. According to Dr. Mark Hall, the museum’s collections officer, “What we now know from Chris’s facial reconstruction is that she is Kushite, from the kingdom of Kush, which was a neighbor to Ancient Egypt in Sudan.” Hall adds that this was a time when the Kushite empire was expanding its influence, marking a period of black, Kushite pharaohs.
Rynn shared that the face depicted on the sarcophagus is notably different from that of the woman who actually occupied it, featuring a longer face and a narrow nose. Interestingly, on the inside of the lid, there’s a painting portraying a woman with much darker skin, hinting at the divergence between artistic representation and reality.
In Rynn’s depiction, the woman is shown bald because, according to him, all priests and priestesses would have shaved their heads for both ceremonial and hygienic reasons. He suggested that if she were indeed a princess, she might have typically worn a ceremonial wig.
João Philippe Reid, the museum’s exhibitions manager, expressed excitement about presenting these hidden histories and the faces of marginalized stories. “Seeing a Sudanese face emerge is really exciting,” he said, emphasizing the museum’s commitment to diversifying narratives that reflect both historical and contemporary societies.
The sarcophagus, which is believed to have been discovered in the late 19th century, was sold from a museum in Cairo to a businessman in Alloa before eventually being donated to Perth. Its extraordinary journey is a testament to the interconnectedness of history.
The upcoming exhibition, titled Waters Rising, not only highlights the mummy but also explores the broader theme of climate change, particularly how it has affected the region, as evidenced by the flooding of the Nile that damaged the sarcophagus. Hall concluded, “It’s thrilling to see Ta-Kr-Hb’s face; we hope it resonates with visitors, reminding them of our shared humanity.”
