Mummies of the World Makes Southern U.S. Premiere at Discovery Place 11.11.11

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A 6,420-year-old child mummy from Peru, one the oldest mummies ever discovered, joins an astonishing collection of mummies and related artifacts in the extraordinary exhibition Mummies of the World, which will make its southern U.S. premiere at Discovery Place on November 11, 2011. The presentation in Charlotte will mark the fourth stop of the exhibition's exclusive seven-city tour.  Discovery Place, one of the most visited museums in North Carolina, has hosted a series of highly-acclaimed science exhibitions in recent years including the Dead Sea Scrolls, BODY WORLDS and A Day in Pompeii. Mummies of the World is the first exhibition of its kind to be showcased at Discovery Place, portraying both naturally and intentionally preserved mummies from around the world in a never-before-seen collection unlike unless else that has ever toured the United States.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110201/FL40571 )

Mummies of the World is the largest exhibition of real mummies and related artifacts ever assembled. Featuring an astounding collection of 150 artifacts and real human and animal mummies from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt, the exhibit provides a window into the lives of ancient people from every region of the world and offers unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations.  Through modern science the exhibit also demonstrates that mummification – both through natural processes and intentional practices – has taken place all over the globe, from the hot desert sands of South America to remote European moors and bogs.

"We are excited to bring Mummies of the World to Charlotte, a city that is known for its commitment to arts, culture and education," said Marc Corwin, president of American Exhibitions, Inc., producer of Mummies of the World. "The exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the lives and culture of ancient peoples and the science that has kept them remarkably preserved for so long. We are pleased to be working with Discovery Place and look forward to being a part of the rich and diverse Charlotte-area community."

The treasures presented in Mummies of the World include a mummified family from Hungary discovered in a forgotten church crypt; the Detmold Child, one of the oldest infant mummies ever discovered and almost 3,000 years older than King Tut; a 17th century German nobleman discovered in a family vault; and Egyptian animal mummies including a falcon, a fish, a dog and a baby crocodile, many of which were deliberately preserved to accompany royals for eternity.

Mummies of the World tells the story of the mummies through state-of-the-art multimedia, hands-on interactive stations and cutting-edge 3-D animation taking visitors on a 6,500-year journey to explore the mummies' history and origins as well as how they were created through both intentional and natural processes.  Through CT scans, researchers have determined that prior to death many of the mummies showed evidence of various ailments and illnesses, some of them endemic among families.

The concept for the exhibition began in 2004 with the German Mummy Project's rediscovery of 20 specimens within the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums of Mannheim, Germany. A consortium of mummy researchers used DNA analysis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), radiocarbon dating and mass spectrometry to learn more, and engaged the cooperation of 21 world-renowned museums, organizations and collections in seven countries to make this innovative exhibition possible.

"Mummies of the World will engross visitors in both the science that brings history to life as well as the history that science reveals," said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place, Inc. "This stunning collection has so much to teach us about people and cultures that once thrived. Discovery Place is honored to offer such an exciting, unique and educational experience to the region."

Mummies of the World will be on exhibition from November 11, 2011 through April 8, 2012.  Tickets are now on sale and reservations are highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased via phone at 704.372.6261 x300 or in person at Discovery Place.  For more information about Mummies of the World visit:  www.discoveryplace.org or www.mummiesoftheworld.com.

SOURCE Mummies of the World