Niagara Falls Museum Mummy 5
NFM M5

This beautifully preserved mummy has been the centrepiece of the Niagara Falls Museum collection for many years. He has been advertised as 'the oldest and most perfectly preserved mummy in North America,' and labelled as a general of Tuthmosis III, the greatest of the New Kingdom warrior pharaohs (c.1479-1425 bce). In fact, the writer of the label identified NFM M6 with Amenemheb, one of Tuthmosis III's comrades in arms, who had saved the king's life during an elephant hunt in Syria.

Unfortunately, the style of the mummification, as well the mummy's fine red beard and hair, and the cloth in which he is wrapped, clearly attest that this gentleman lived no longer ago than in Roman times, circa 30 bce - 400 ce.

This male mummy is about 1.60 m in length, and appears to have been a mature man, between 41 and 60 years of age at death.

His arms and hands are placed alongside his body.

General Ossipumphneferu strongly resembles the Roman period mummies found in the village of Qasr Dush at the Kharga Oasis in the Western Desert. (This population, according to Francoise Dunand and Roger Lichtenberg, is of 'Mediterranean' type . . .almost identical in features to the population of the Nile valley.)

No examination of the body by laparoscopy was made, nor were tissue samples taken. Further examination of this tall and hearty man would be worthwhile as he exceeded most of his contemporaries in both age and height. The 'General' may still have tales to tell.