New allegations and sensational news: a pregnant mummy is at the center of controversy (photos).

An ancient Egyptian mummy, previously believed to have died from throat cancer during pregnancy, may not have been carrying a fetus and did not suffer from a tumor. The authors of a new study accuse the team behind the initial claims of exaggerating their conclusions without sufficient evidence, writes IFLScience.

Researchers assert that the supposed fetus was actually embalming material placed by the embalmers, and that mistakes made during the removal of the woman's brain led to the misidentification of cancer. These are not the first remains that scientists have misidentified during their studies.

Scientists adhering to the mainstream theory responded by claiming that the new study is an attempt to sensationalize a normal academic discussion. They argue that the recent work provides no new evidence.

The mummy at the center of this controversy, known as the Mysterious Lady, was brought to Poland in the early 1800s. It is currently housed in the National Museum in Warsaw.

In 2021, the Warsaw Mummy Project team suggested that the mummy contained a fetus approximately 26 to 30 weeks old. Later, they claimed that a cavity in the skull indicated a cancerous tumor that could have been the cause of death.

However, the authors of the new study argue that the initial conclusions were not verified by a radiologist, which is standard procedure in such cases. One paleoradiologist, specializing in fetal imaging, pointed out the absence of a fetal skeleton inside the mummy. In response, the Warsaw Mummy Project suggested that the bones may have dissolved due to natural acids after death.

For further investigation, skeptics shared the original CT scans with 10 independent radiology experts, who unanimously concluded that there is no evidence of a fetus. Additionally, none of the experts found signs of cancer, explaining the skull lesion as damage incurred during the brain removal process.

Wojciech Ajsmond and Marzena Ożarek-Silke from the Warsaw Mummy Project acknowledged that interpretations vary but defend their pregnancy hypothesis, supported by consultations with gynecologists and obstetricians. The scientists also noted that the cancer theory was developed with the involvement of an expert in the field, emphasizing that it remains a working hypothesis.

The conclusion of the new study states that there is no evidence supporting the presence of a fetus or cancer in the mummy. It also criticizes the Warsaw Mummy Project for unverified claims and accuses the media of spreading false narratives.

In response, Ajsmond and Ożarek-Silke assert that the new study is based on incomplete CT data and selectively quotes their statements to support a particular viewpoint.

We also reported on Etruscan tombs discovered in Italy. Despite the looting of past generations, archaeologists have uncovered numerous artifacts.