Endoscopy in mummy studies

Non- or minimally invasive techniques have been developed to overcome the difficulties in securing permission to perform invasive and destructive biopsies on mummies. To that end, researchers first employed radiology; however, in some mummified remains, pathological signs are not easily detectable on X-ray or CT images. Endoscopy, alternatively, has emerged as the definitive diagnostic tool for minimization of damage to mummies in the course of biopsy or research. Indeed, this technique tends to be more acceptable to descendants as well as curators of invaluable remains. This chapter reviews a brief history of endoscopy, summarizes the fundamental techniques and tools currently employed, and finally considers the advantages and shortcomings of this modality based on our personal experiences in mummy research.