Is this the world's YOUNGEST mummy? Scans of what was thought to be a 2,300-year-old hawk reveal it to be a miscarried baby

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Scans of mummified remains have revealed that what was thought for centuries to be a 2,300-year-old hawk is in fact a baby - and could be one of the world's youngest mummies.

The remains, which are preserved in a tiny sarcophagus, are now believed to belong to a miscarried 20-week gestation foetus.

It is the latest in a series of remarkable discoveries made by medical experts analysing ancient Egyptian artefacts at Maidstone Museum, Kent.

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Scans of mummified remains have revealed that what was thought for centuries to be a 2,300-year-old hawk is in fact a baby - and could be one of the world's youngest mummies 

The research is being carried out at Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery Hospital as part of a Heritage Lottery funded £78,700 ($98,000) redevelopment of the museum's Ancient Civilizations gallery.

Samantha Harris, collections manager at the museum, said: 'Among the other items we analysed was a piece that had initially been classified as 'A mummified hawk with linen and cartonnage, Ptolemaic period (323 BC - 30BC)'.

'Following the scans at KIMS Hospital, the remains were in fact revealed to be the mummy of a baby.

'Initial reviews identified the baby to be a miscarried c.20-week gestation foetus which, if found to be the case, will be one of the youngest human mummies recorded anywhere in the world.

'Thanks to the CT scanning, we are able to learn much more about the collections in a non-invasive way, without damaging the integrity or condition of the artefacts.

The remains, which are preserved in a tiny sarcophagus, are now believed to belong to a miscarried 20-week gestation foetus. Scans were taken at KIMS Hospital

The tiny sarcophagus was examined in a CT scanner at KIMS Hospital. The research is being carried out at Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery Hospital as part of a Heritage Lottery funded £78,700 ($98,000) redevelopment of the museum's Ancient Civilizations gallery

Without the technology, identifying and learning about the baby mummy would've been impossible without causing irreversible damage from unwrapping, said Samantha Harris, collections manager at Maidstone Museum

'For example, without access to the technology, identifying and learning about the baby mummy would've been impossible without causing irreversible damage from unwrapping.'

This marks the second new discovery this week for the museum, after a scan of a 2,700-year-old Egyptian mummy that is part of the same collection revealed she is much older than initially thought.

The mummy, known as Ta-Kush, is being analysed by medical experts using a CT scan to reconstruct her ancient face. 

Scientists thought she was around 14-years-old but it is believed the mummified woman was at least in her mid-20s, or potentially much older, when she died. 

Another mummy, Ta-Kush, is being analysed by medical experts using a CT scan to reconstruct her ancient face. Scientists thought she was around 14 years old but it is believed the mummified woman was at least in her mid 20s when she was preserved

She is a visitor favourite at Maidstone Museum in Kent, and now scientists are reconstructing her face to discover more about her background 

It was always thought she was a teenage girl, but a scan of the 2,700-year-old Egyptian mummy has revealed she was much older than initially thought (scan pictured) when she was preserved

Known by a number of names, including The Lady of the House and daughter of God of the afterlife Osiris, Ta-Kush made her way to England in the 1820s.

It was always thought she was a teenage girl but the scan conducted at Kent Institute of Medicine and Science revealed features that suggest she is much older.

'The scans conducted indicate evidence of well-worn teeth, loss of enamel, cavities, abscesses in the jaw and fully erupted wisdom teeth,' said Mark Garrad, CT lead radiographer at KIMS Hospital.

'Although we cannot place her age exactly, the evidence we have managed to glean from the initial scans would suggest a person who is at least mid-twenties, possibly much older.

'It has been fascinating to be part of the early stages of discovery and we are looking forward to what other insights the experts can gather about Ta-Kush.'

The scans showed evidence of a wedge fracture in one of her vertebrae, which is seen in patients suffering a downward impact, such as a fall or landing upright.

But it also showed signs of healing, indicating Ta-Kush could have been living with the injury.

Facial reconstruction of Ta-Kush will now be carried out with the help of Liverpool John Moores University.

Research will also be carried out to uncover more about her life and the history of mummified animal remains in the museum's collection.

The scans also show evidence of a wedge fracture in one of her vertebrae, which is seen in patients suffering a downward impact, such as a fall or landing upright, but also shows signs of healing, indicating Ta-Kush could well have been living with this injury

Work already being undertaken has helped narrow down where she originated to the area around Thebes - the ruins of which now sit in the city of Luxor

Scientists thought she was around 14 years old but it is believed the mummified woman is at least in her mid 20s Known by a number of names, including The Lady of the House and daughter of God of the afterlife Osiris, Ta-Kush made her way to England in the 1820s

The scans also show evidence of a wedge fracture in one of her vertebrae, which is seen in patients suffering a downward impact, such as a fall or landing upright, but also shows signs of healing, indicating Ta-Kush could well have been living with this injury 

Lyn Palmer, who is managing the project, said: 'It is going to personalise Ta-Kush. It will mean that our visitors will be able to see what she looks like'