Evaluating the Biodeterioration Enzymatic Activities of Fungal Contamination Isolated from Some Ancient Yemeni Mummies Preserved in the National Museum
Table 1
List of ancient mummy’s samples collected from National Museum of Yemen at Sana’a (NMS) during this investigation.
No.
Mummy description
Source
Age years
M1
A male skeleton of mummy dried naturally (dehydrated body)*
Shebam al-Giras-Sana’a
~2000
M2
Human mummified remains dried naturally (dehydrated body) showing mold deterioration
Al-Hymah-Sana’a
~2000
M3
A typical Yemeni mummy wrapped with linen cloth
Al-Tawilah Al-Mahwit
~2000
M4
Severe fragile and damaged human mummified remains
Al-Tawilah Al-Mahwit
~2000
M5
Human mummified body dried naturally (dehydrated body) showing linen textiles without a conservation process. Deterioration of textiles eventually causes complete loss
Al-Tawilah Al-Mahwit
~2000
A mummy embalmed or treated with chemicals, or it may have been naturally desiccated under extreme cold, dryness, or even lack of air.