Peruvian mummy to be restored with 3D printer

The Lady of Ampato is getting a makeover. And as insulting as it may sound, it’s actually her whole face that needs to get redone.

Plans to replace what’s left of the 500-year-old mummy’s current look with a new, 3D-printed face were announced Thursday by museum director Ruddy Perea of Peru’s Santa Maria Catholic University’s (UCSM)

The Lady of Amptao mummy, commonly known in Peru as “Mummy Juanita,” was found at the summit of the 6,288-meter-high (20,629 feet) Ampato Volcano near Peru’s southern city of Arequipa in 1995. She is believed to have been an offer in an Incan religious ceremony between 1440 and 1450 AD. She was likely mummified in her early teens. When she was discovered 23 years ago, she still had all her internal organs in tact and was found wrapped in a blanket along with elaborate jewelry and clothing commonly used in sacrifice ceremonies.

The 3D printing project has actually been in development for a year as USCM officials have collaborated with UK forensic scientists.

According to state-owned news agency Andina, in order to remake the Lady of Ampato’s face, researchers will use a high-tech photogrammetry software that uses design techniques to superimpose images.

They will then use other sets of modern equipment to conduct analyses on teeth shape and mouth structure. This will then let scientists know the mummy’s approximate height, age and other anthropological information that they can use to make a 3D replica that is as precise as possible.

In the past, anthropologists have hypothesized that “Mummy Juanita” was hit in the head with a blunt object, which would follow in line with a sacrificial killing. Per Incan custom, when certain babies were born they were raised to eventually be sacrificed to the gods that inhabited Ampato Volcano. On the volcano top, a high priest would stand over the child and hit him or her over the head to deal the fatal blow before leaving the child buried at the crater.

“Mummy Juanita” was found in large part thanks to a volcanic eruption that slid it partially down the mountain and allowed anthropologists Johan Reinhard and Miguel Zarate to discover her still in-tact corpse.

Michael Krumholtz:

View Comments (38)

  • In today's world technology is a hot topic. I have used my 3D printer in my ways other than printing. Firstly I didn't know anything regarding that, but with the help of this facebook I got the proper solution. I hope that will be fine to get about it.

  • The advancement of technology has gone so far that this perviun mummy can be restored. This is really exciting on how advancement of science and technology can restore ancient beings
    .with further help from http://www.facebook.com we can gather multiple resource information.

  • This 3D printer is contemporary technology for mummy. Actually, I have some idea of this printer related but now it is clear by your great tips. This information has helped me a lot.

  • Why Is It Necessary To Get The Aid From The HP Support Assistant?
    Suppose anyone is using Hp printer regularly to make use of daily printing needs. All of the sudden, they might come across several sorts of problems during the course of using the HP printer. In such a case, you should get the HP Support Assistant for fetching the proper assistance in no time. https://www.hpprintersupportpro.net/hp-support-assistant/

  • Do you want to access to official HP Support Assistant? Are you not capable of resolving unknown technical errors cropping up while on the HP printer? In such a case, you should approach the above mentioned source in order to get the right solution, at the right time from the right troubleshooting professionals.
    https://hp-printer-support.us/hp-support-assistant/

  • This article is very interesting as it talks about how we can use a 3d printer to restore and rejoin the bits and pieces of a past long forgotten . It employs a very new technique to unveil the face of a mummy centuries old . Thus we see science and history coinciding and coexisting and also for more information related to this you can visit the site facebook which I believe will be helpful .

  • HP jumpstart is a preinstalled software that comes with HP laptops. It guides the user to personalize their computer and install apps. To more about HP jumpstart feel free to visit us at our web portal.