Cairo
Ancient Egyptians certainly knew how to preserve a human body. Sadly, few guides exist explaining the mummification process Ancient Egyptians used.
As such, a recent discovery is more than just a cool foot note. Or, rather, head note. We now have more insight into their specific body preservation techniques.
Scientists have just unearthed a 3,500-year-old manual detailing the process for embalming a face.
The University of Copenhagen has announced (in news we first heard at CNET) the discovery of a manual inside an Ancient Egyptian medical papyrus.
The University’s Egyptologist Sofie Schiødt has already reconstructed the process—the very same one used by that long gone civilization.
This is more than just a fun find. It stands as “the oldest surviving manual on mummification” ever discovered.
Few exist at all; as the University writes, “Most secrets of the art were probably passed on orally from one embalmer to the other.”
As such, little written evidence about the process remains. Until recently, “only two texts on mummification had been identified” in total.
The papyrus features many newly found, “extremely detailed” descriptions. Later manuals omitted them entirely.—AFP
