In some cases, soft tissue can be removed from the mummy without causing much damage. The information recovered is bringing the dead to life in ways never thought possible. Details include the gender, age and health of a person, how they were mummified and whether objects were included beneath the wrapping. Also, if soft tissue can be removed, biological information on DNA, genes and diseases can be revealed.
The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Image credit: gadigal yilimung shield made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more. Mummification was mainly done to wealthy people as poorer people could not afford the process. The chief embalmer was a priest wearing a mask of Anubis. Anubis was the jackal headed god of the dead. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described three different mummification methods based on social class that were offered by embalmers of the day.
The brain was drawn out through the nostrils using a crooked piece of iron. Contents of the belly were taken out and the interior was cleaned using palm-wine and aromatics.
The belly was filled with pure myrrh , cassia and other spices and then sewn together again. The body was washed and rolled up in fine linen and covered over with gum. Finally, the mummified corpse was returned to family members.
Syringes were filled with oil from the cedar tree and injected into the abdomen, dissolving the bowels and interior organs.
The body was covered with a natron treatment for 70 days, after which the cedar oil was cleaned out and the body was left as skin and bones. The body was covered with a natron treatment for 70 days before being returned to loved ones.
Egyptian mummification became a lost art around the 4th century A. But because Egyptians were masters at preserving the dead, mummies have provided us with a glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of this ancient civilization. But that's not to say corpse preservation is, well, dead. They also hunted animals on land and gathered edible plants from the surrounding area. Related: Desert dryness inspired mummy diversity. The Chinchorro practice of mummification began around 7, years ago, some two millennia before the first known Egyptian mummies, according to the same CNN report.
Although the practice became more sophisticated over time, the basic process remained the same. It involved the removal of soft tissue, organs and brains. The hollow body was then dried out and reassembled.
The skin was stuffed with reeds, dried plants or other vegetal matter. Sticks were inserted into the arms and legs. Clay masks were placed on the corpses' faces and wigs were often attached. The finished mummy was then painted. During the early phases of Chinchorro society about 7, — 4, years ago , mummies were painted with black manganese. From B. Not just the elite but all segments of Chinchorro society were mummified, including infants, children, adults and even fetuses.
It was in ancient Egypt, however, that mummification reached its greatest elaboration. The first Egyptian mummies appear in the archaeological record at approximately B.
By the time of the Old Kingdom, or Age of the Pyramids ca. It became a mainstay during subsequent periods, reaching particular heights of sophistication during the New Kingdom ca. Unlike in Chinchorro society, mummification in ancient Egypt was typically reserved for the elite of society such as royalty, noble families, government officials and the wealthy.
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