Secrets of Mummification Unveiled at Saqqara Dig
The age-old mystery of how ancient Egyptians preserved their dead is one step closer to being solved.
An Egyptian-German research team has uncovered new secrets of ancient Egyptian mummification processes, according to a recently-published study in the globally-renowned British weekly scientific journal Nature.
The team of scientists from Ludwig Maximilian and Tübingen Universities in Germany and the National Research Center in Cairo analyzed the organic remains found in pottery pots discovered in a mummification workshop in Saqqara in 2018. The vessels contained names of the materials used in the mummification process, written in the ancient Egyptian language, and the names of the body parts where these materials were used.
For the first time, the researchers were able to link the materials used in mummification to specific body parts. The study also revealed that some of the materials used in the process were imported from regions such as the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, indicating communication and trade links between these regions in ancient times.
Analysis of the remains in the vessels determined their chemical composition, including the discovery that the substance known as ‘Antio’, previously thought to be aromatic gum, was actually a mixture of cedar wood oil, juniper oil (cypress), and animal fats.
The discovery provides new insights into the ancient art of mummification, highlighting the knowledge and expertise of the ancient Egyptians, and the trade and communication networks they maintained with other regions.
- Previous Article HOW (NOT) TO GO TO A PING PONG SHOW
- Next Article Egypt Sends Relief Aid to Turkey & Syria Following Deadly Earthquake
Related Articles
Trending This Week
-
Apr 23, 2024 -
-
-
Events Calendar
