Mummification

Question 1

What have humans learnt about ancient Egyptians from studying mummies?

Answer 1

• Lifestyle of ancient Egyptians
• Possible diseases and causes of death
• Cultures and religious beliefs of the Egyptians
• How this civilisation approached death, burial, and concepts of the afterlife
• Biologists use the method of mummification to learn about the persons diet and health

Question 2

What is a mummy?

Answer 2

A mummy is a dead human or animal whose soft tissues have been preserved by exposure to chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity or lack of air, so that the recovered body does not decay.

Question 3

Why did the mummification process take a while to complete?

Answer 3

The mummification process took many weeks to complete, as part of the ritual involved covering the body in a mineral salt called natron and then leaving it to dry out for 40 days. In addition, the deceased person’s death mask and decorative coffin needed to be constructed.

Question 4

What is the process of mummification?

Answer 4

1. Wash the dead body with water or palm oil
2. Use a long hook to pull out the brain from the left nostril and throw them away
3. Cut open the left side of the stomach and remove the liver, lungs, intestines and stomach. Don’t remove the heart as it contains the personality
4. Cover the internal organs with natron to absorb all the all the moisture. Rub the dried organs with oils and resin and wrap them in linen bandages. Then push them into canopic jars.
5. Cover the body with natron and leave it for 40 days to dry out. Then rub the dried skin with palm oils and ointments. Pack
   the stomach cavity with perfumed linen and sew up the wound.
6. Place a magic charm over the stomach wound and a scarab (beetle-shaped charm) over the heart. Then wrap
   the each part of the body separately with linen bandages dipped in gum.
7. Place a mask made from linen and glue over the person’s head and shoulders.
8. Place the wrapped mummy in a decorate body shaped coffin.

Question 5

How have Ancient Egyptian human remains have been incredibly well preserved though mummification even after thousands of years?

Answer 5

• The Egyptians used special processes like removing moisture from the body and left the body dry so that it would not easily decay
• They are recognisably a human body
• They have been so well preserved that scientists can still conduct autopsies on them