From the vaults: Field Musuem bringing out the mummies

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'Opening Vaults: Mummies' exhibitiThe Field Museum. 4 year old Teegan Friar his mother Kristie Friar from Chicago views Oldest Teenager

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. 4 year old Teegan Friar and his mother, Kristie Friar from Chicago views Oldest Teenager mummy, Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

'Opening Vaults: Mummies' exhibitiThe Field Museum. Monday February 13 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

'Opening Vaults: Mummies' exhibitiThe Field Museum. A Mother Child from Chancay Mummy Bundle Monday February 13 2012. | John H.

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. A Mother and Child from Chancay Mummy Bundle, Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

'Opening Vaults: Mummies' exhibitiThe Field Museum. Robert D. MartA. WatsArmour III Curator Biological Anthropology The Field Museum Monday February 13

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Robert D. Martin, A. Watson Armour III Curator of Biological Anthropology at The Field Museum, Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

An Egyptian mummy case part an exhibit 'Opening Vaults: Mummies' Field Museum Monday February 13 2012. Edward Ayer purchased

An Egyptian mummy case, part of an exhibit, "Opening the Vaults: Mummies" at the Field Museum, Monday, February 13, 2012. Edward Ayer purchased most of the Field Museum's Egyptian collection for the World Columbian Exposition in 1893. Today's scientists can learn much about Egyptian culture by studying mummies, their coffins, and goods from their graves. | John H. White-Chicago Sun-Times

A female's image graces bottom an Egyptian mummy case part an exhibit 'Opening Vaults: Mummies' Field Museum Monday February 13

A female's image graces the bottom of an Egyptian mummy case, part of an exhibit, "Opening the Vaults: Mummies" at the Field Museum, Monday, February 13, 2012. Edward Ayer purchased most of the Field Museum's Egyptian collection for the World Columbian Exposition in 1893. Today's scientists can learn much about Egyptian culture by studying mummies, their coffins, and goods from their graves. | John H. White-Chicago Sun-Times

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

A Chancay Peruvian Mummy Bundle contains an adult female alongside young baby thdied during or shortly after childbirth. Peruvian mummies

A Chancay Peruvian Mummy Bundle contains an adult female alongside a young baby that died during or shortly after childbirth. Peruvian mummies were buried in the fetal position, not laid out like Egyptian mummies. Part of a new exhibit, "Opening the Vaults: Mummies" at the Field Museum Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

'Opening Vaults: Mummies' exhibitiThe Field Museum. A Mummified Gazelle Monday February 13 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. A Mummified Gazelle Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

"Opening the Vaults: Mummies" exhibition at The Field Museum. Monday, February 13, 2012. | John H. White~Chicago Sun-Times.

Of the 24 million items in the Field Museum’s collection, less than 1 percent are on public display at any given time. Starting Friday, some of the museum’s most storied and fragile treasures, many not seen since the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, will be featured …