Radiation levels in ancient Egyptian mummies

Abstract Radiation levels were studied in the mummies room and some galleries in the Egyptian museum as well as in the medical museum of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. γ and β radiation levels show almost background values in direct contrast to some mummies in the closed mummies room and inside the glass cases used for protection. Radon decay products in the room atmosphere and inside the glass cases enclosing some mummies show slightly higher levels than the background which were attributed to inefficient ventilation. After reasonable ventilation during the work, these levels apprached the normal values. High resolution γ-ray spectroscopy measurements for the aerosol samples on the filters have shown background values. The results indicated that the mummies do not contain any radioactivity content or any radioactive sources as was previously suggested.