Ancient Mummy-Making Techniques Are Finally Unwrapped

An analysis of ancient pots has revealed the complex chemistry and rare ingredients involved in Egyptian mummification.

By Bridget Alex
Dec 26, 2023 3:00 PM
pyramid of Una
A few strides south of the pyramid of Unas, the mummification workshop was used to treat dead bodies between 664 and 525 B.C.E. (Credit: S. Beck © Saqqara Saite Tombs Project, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany)

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Around 2,600 years ago, a small ceramic bowl sat in a subterranean workshop. Carrying hints of cedar and honey, the bowl was used by Egyptian embalmers to blend essential oils and beeswax for the multimonth process that transformed corpses into mummies.

Reciting incantations, removing organs, and applying substances that made bodies dry, fragrant, and microbe-free, the embalmers employed a multifaceted set of skills.

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