SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PREPARE TO AUTOPSY A MUMMY, 1998-05-18 (photo)

Professor Mark Spigelman (L), Visiting Professor at University College, London and his brother Allan (R), Professor of Surgical Science at University of Newcastle check an x-ray as they prepare to perform an autopsy on Pediashakhet at Sydney University May 18. Pediashakhet was a priest who last presided over strange religious ceremonies of his culture in about 700BC. The university is performing a battery of medical tests on the mummified bodies of three unrelated ancients to find out why they died. They hope the tests will give a snapshot of their lifestyle and give insights into the evolution of diseases such as cancer and syphilis. JO/ME