Image of a mummy curled up in a fetal position

THE FIRST MUMMIES: The earliest Egyptian mummies were preserved with only resins and perfumes, and buried on their sides. The oldest known Egyptian mummy is about 5,600 years old.

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Mummies Unwrapped!

Discover surprising secrets about mummies

October 23, 2023

By Jess Romeo

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT how ancient Egyptians preserved their dead for thousands of years.

The year is 1922. A team of British archaeologists and Egyptian workers are digging beneath the hot sand in the Valley of the Kings, an ancient burial site in Egypt. For five years, they’ve been searching for a hidden tomb—rumored to be filled with treasure. One day, a worker discovers a stone step. They dig, revealing stairs that lead to a sealed door.

The year is 1922. A team of British archaeologists and Egyptian workers are digging under the hot sand. They’re in the Valley of the Kings, an ancient burial site in Egypt. For five years, they’ve been searching for a hidden tomb. Rumors say it’s filled with treasure. One day, a worker discovers a stone step. They dig and reveal stairs that lead to a sealed door.

RMN-LOUVRE/ORANGE LOGIC/ART RESOURCE

Egyptians mummified about 70 million animals, including cats, birds, crocodiles, and rams, as gifts for the gods.

Behind the door, the archaeologists find a chamber overflowing with gold, jewels, and statues. Deeper in the tomb, they come across another room containing only a solid-gold coffin. Inside lies the mummy of Tutankhamen—a pharaoh, or ancient Egyptian king, who died thousands of years ago.

Ancient Egyptians believed that preserving a person’s body after death also preserved their spirit. That’s why Egyptians had their bodies mummified and buried with objects they might need in the afterlife. Priests used natural salts to dry the body. Oils and resins prevented the soft tissues from decomposing, or breaking down.

The riches in Tut’s tomb made him the most famous mummy ever discovered. But archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of others. Mummies can reveal what life was like in ancient Egypt, from the diseases people contracted and the medical treatments they received to their cultural and religious beliefs. This creates a powerful connection to the past, says Daniel Antoine, head of the Department of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum in London. “It is a rare privilege to be able to stare at the face of someone who lived thousands of years ago,” he says.

Behind the door, the archaeologists find a chamber. It’s full of gold, jewels, and statues. Deeper in the tomb, they discover another room. It contains only a solid-gold coffin. The mummy of Tutankhamen lies inside. He was a pharaoh, or ancient Egyptian king. He died thousands of years ago.

Ancient Egyptians preserved a person’s body after death. They believed this also preserved their spirit. So Egyptians had their bodies mummified. They were buried with objects they might need in the afterlife. Priests used natural salts to dry the body. Oils and resins prevented the soft tissues from decomposing, or breaking down.

Tut is the most famous mummy ever discovered, thanks to the riches in his tomb. But archaeologists have found hundreds of others. Mummies can teach us about life in ancient Egypt. They reveal the diseases people had and the medical treatments they received. Mummies also show Egyptian cultural and religious beliefs. This creates a powerful connection to the past, says Daniel Antoine. He’s head of the Department of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum in London. “It is a rare privilege to be able to stare at the face of someone who lived thousands of years ago,” he says.

ANCIENT HISTORY

Ancient Egypt existed for more than 4,000 years. Here are some major events from its history.

2800s BCE

Elaborate ritual mummification begins.

2800s BCE

Elaborate ritual mummification begins.

KITTI BOONNITROD/GETTY IMAGES

2600s BCE

The first pyramids are built, including the Pyramids at Giza.

2600s BCE

The first pyramids are built, including the Pyramids at Giza.

LANMAS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

1550 BCE

Priests start burying mummies with the Book of the Dead, which contains spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife.

1550 BCE

Priests start burying mummies with the Book of the Dead, which contains spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife.

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

1342-1332 BCE

Tutankhamen rules as pharaoh from age 9 to 19.

1342-1332 BCE

Tutankhamen rules as pharaoh from age 9 to 19.

51-30 BCE

Cleopatra rules as the last pharaoh before Egypt joins the Roman Empire.

51-30 BCE

Cleopatra rules as the last pharaoh before Egypt joins the Roman Empire.

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many years passed between the end of Tutankhamen’s reign and the beginning of Cleopatra’s?

ANCIENT HISTORY

Ancient Egypt existed for more than 4,000 years. Here are some major events from its history.

2800s BCE

Elaborate ritual mummification begins.

2800s BCE

Elaborate ritual mummification begins.

KITTI BOONNITROD/GETTY IMAGES

2600s BCE

The first pyramids are built, including the Pyramids at Giza.

2600s BCE

The first pyramids are built, including the Pyramids at Giza.

LANMAS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

1550 BCE

Priests start burying mummies with the Book of the Dead, which contains spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife.

1550 BCE

Priests start burying mummies with the Book of the Dead, which contains spells to guide the deceased in the afterlife.

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

1342-1332 BCE

Tutankhamen rules as pharaoh from age 9 to 19.

1342-1332 BCE

Tutankhamen rules as pharaoh from age 9 to 19.

51-30 BCE

Cleopatra rules as the last pharaoh before Egypt joins the Roman Empire.

51-30 BCE

Cleopatra rules as the last pharaoh before Egypt joins the Roman Empire.

DIG INTO THE DATA: How many years passed between the end of Tutankhamen’s reign and the beginning of Cleopatra’s?

MAKING A MUMMY

Egyptians spent thousands of years developing the ritual of mummification. The body was preserved by embalmers. Here’s how they did it.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

1. Embalmers washed the body and removed the internal organs. They inserted a tool into the nose to remove the brain.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

2. The body was filled with and covered in natron (NAY-trahn), a naturally occurring salt mixture that drew moisture out of the body.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

3. After about 40 days, the salt was rinsed off. The body was packed with sawdust, spices, or cloth. Organs were put back in the body or placed in special jars.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

4. Embalmers coated the skin with oils and sticky resin from trees. This protected the mummy from decay. The body was then wrapped in linen strips.

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

5. Finally, the body was enclosed in a coffin and placed in a tomb.

DIG INTO THE DATA: The ritual of mummification could take up to 70 days. For what percentage of that time was the body being dried out with natron?

MAKING A MUMMY

Egyptians spent thousands of years developing the ritual of mummification. The body was preserved by embalmers. Here’s how they did it.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

1. Embalmers washed the body and removed the internal organs. They inserted a tool into the nose to remove the brain.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

2. The body was filled with and covered in natron (NAY-trahn), a naturally occurring salt mixture that drew moisture out of the body.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

3. After about 40 days, the salt was rinsed off. The body was packed with sawdust, spices, or cloth. Organs were put back in the body or placed in special jars.

ILLUSTRATION BY EYEWASH

4. Embalmers coated the skin with oils and sticky resin from trees. This protected the mummy from decay. The body was then wrapped in linen strips.

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

5. Finally, the body was enclosed in a coffin and placed in a tomb.

DIG INTO THE DATA: The ritual of mummification could take up to 70 days. For what percentage of that time was the body being dried out with natron?

TOMB DISCOVERIES

The mummies of elite Egyptians were buried in elaborate tombs. Two of the most famous burial sites are the Pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings.

DIG INTO THE DATA: About how many kilometers from Cairo is King Tut’s tomb located?

TOMB DISCOVERIES

The mummies of elite Egyptians were buried in elaborate tombs. Two of the most famous burial sites are the Pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings.