A REVIEW ON THE MATERIALS USED DURING THE MUMMIFICATION PROCESSES IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Authors

  • Gomaa Abdel-Maksoud Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
  • Abdel-Rahman El-Amin Human Remains Lab. Conservation Centre, The Grand Egyptian Museum, Ministry of Antiquities affairs, Egypt

Keywords:

Mummification, Natron salt, vegetable materials, beeswax, bitumen, lichen

Abstract

Mummification is considered one of the most important in the history of ancient Egyptian civilization. The artificial mummification process started in the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom reached its peak in the New Kingdom. This review focuses on the usage of mummification materials such as Natron salt, Coniferous resin, Mastic, Myrrh, Beeswax, Bitumen, Cassia, Onions, Lichen, Henna and Gum Arabic in ancient Egypt to determine their effectiveness in the preservation of the body. For each material, the chemical formula, the history, and the role in the preservation of the body are presented. It is shown that natron salt was the most important material to desiccate a corpse, and that the vegetable materials mentioned above have anti-bacterial properties that protected the body from microbial attack.

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Published

2023-07-27

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Articles