The very first thing that probably comes to mind when you hear ancient Egypt is its enormous pyramids. But similarly long-lasting are its many mummies, consisting of those of great pharaohs embalmed numerous countless years earlier. Yet although weve come a long method in comprehending how the ancients prepared bodies for mummification, a number of the fine information have actually escaped us.
” For me, the most interesting result was the chemical understanding of the ancient embalmers without having any concept about microbiology – they just had centuries of experience and observation of which compounds add to much better conservation of the body,” Philipp Stockhammer, Professor of archaeology at Ludwig-Maximilians-University and co-author of the brand-new research study, told ZME Science.
Now, a brand-new study has actually made interesting brand-new revelations about this ancient practice of preserving the dead. A German-Egyptian team of scientists evaluated chemical residues from vessels discovered at an embalming workshop in Saqqara, near the pyramid of Unas in Lower Egypt, where ancient Egyptians used to embalm the corpses of the elite more than 2,500 years back, during the 26th Dynasty of Egypt (664-525 B.C.).
At the same time, the chemical analysis of the 31 ceramic vessels exposed the nature of numerous embalming ingredients that were formerly puzzling in dishes from enduring ancient papyrus texts. By identifying these compounds, the scientists not only enriched our understanding of the complex mummification procedure however also presumed a rich cultural story, figuring out the significance of some terms used in ancient texts and showing the function that mummification had in cultivating long-distance trade from as far as South-East Asia.
Ancient Egypt has left us an extraordinary lasting legacy. Its art and architecture have been extensively copied, and its antiquities can be discovered in museums in the far corners of the world.
Artist impression of an embalming scene. Credit: Nikola Nevenov.
The nuts and bolts of ancient Egyptian mummification
Thats not all. These vessels were also identified with their contents and even had guidelines for use, such as “substance for the head” or “for making stunning skin”.
However for this spiritual journey to be successful, the physical body had to remain intact for as long as possible, much to the distress of the common folk who were too bad to manage this very costly embalming.
“By far the greatest difficulty was the sudden death of the excavator of the embalmers workshop, Ramadan Hussein, in March 2022. Maxime, Ramadan and I had currently completed large parts of the manuscript and it was quite Ramadans last dream to see the fruits of his years of research study getting published. We more than happy that this has actually now ended up being possible in such a wonderful way,” Stockhammer stated.
Nevertheless, the researchers of the new study came throughout the finding of a life time. Traveling to Egypt to the Saqqara workshop, they were impressed to find numerous vessels utilized by proficient craftsmen to mummify the dead. The exceptional vessels still included evidence of their previous contents, no doubt active ingredients used in embalming.
Numerous ancient cultures utilized this time-honored tradition, imbued with deep religious significance, including the Chinese and many pre-Columbian societies in South America. It was in ancient Egypt that mummification reached its peak, a sophistication that mirrored the ancient Egyptians fixation with the afterlife.
The specific steps in this mortuary practice are mostly a secret. We understand more about the rituals associated with mummification rather than the actual procedure itself. The little we know from the particularities of the practice comes from a few making it through texts, and mainly from non-Egyptian sources to boot, such as The Histories by Herodotus, which explains 3 levels of mummification.
This is how they pertained to discover that the compound labeled as antiu, formerly translated as myrrh or frankincense, is really a mix of various components. The mix that the craftsmen in Saqqara called antiu included cedar oil, juniper, cypress oil, and animal fats.
Without clearly mentioning this, the ancient residues and labels on the ceramic vessels thus paint an amazing photo of substantial and sophisticated trade networks that connected Egypt with tropical Africa and Southeast Asia. These trade networks were already cemented almost 3,000 years earlier.
“For the very first time, we understand what terms like “antiu” mean (a minimum of in the early 1st mill BC in our workshop), as Egyptologists could just hypothesize about its significance for the last almost 200 years. This will enable/force a new reading of numerous Egyptian texts,” Stockhammer stated.
Vessels from the embalming workshop. Credit: Saqqara Saite Tombs Project, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. Photographer: M. Abdelghaffar.
Mummification involves getting rid of wetness from the body and using particular chemicals and natural preservatives to desiccate the flesh and organs. Numerous ancient cultures utilized this time-honored tradition, imbued with deep spiritual significance, including the Many and chinese pre-Columbian societies in South America. However it was in ancient Egypt that mummification reached its peak, an elegance that mirrored the ancient Egyptians fixation with the afterlife.
“Egyptian embalming was probably a chauffeur forward towards early globalization and long-distance trade. Now, we have to rethink the strength and complexity of early globalization and reconsider our controling idea that international connectedness is a phenomenon restricted to modernity,” the German archaeologist said.
All of this is quite consequential for archaeology and the study is bound to cause waves in Egyptology for several years to come– and its all thanks to a number of lots seemingly unwary old pieces of pottery. The authors would likewise like to remind us all that such invaluable work is not always without sacrifice.
The ancient Egyptians highly thought that when an individual passed away, their spiritual essence would make it through and immediately start a journey where they would come across various divine and demonic entities. Ultimately, the traveling soul would meet Osiris, the god of the dead, who would evaluate if the wandering spirit deserves joining the gods in an everlasting paradise.
The very first thing that probably comes to mind when you hear ancient Egypt is its gigantic pyramids. Although weve come a long way in understanding how the ancients prepared bodies for mummification, many of the great information have left us.
The researchers analyzed the chemical residues in the vessels and then compared the molecular stays to the actual components noted on them.
The pistachio resin and castor oil were utilized only to preserve the head, while other mixtures were utilized to wash the body or soften the skin. The pistachio resin, cedar oil, and bitumen were most likely sourced locally in the Levant. Other identified ingredients, such as dammar gum and elemi resin, could just originate from tropical Africa and Southeast Asia.
We know from ancient texts that depending on your monetary possibilities, you could invest in various “quality bundles” for the mummification/embalming,” Stockhammer said.
The findings appeared in the journal Nature.
Embalming scene with a priest in an underground chamber. Credit: Nikola Nevenov.
We know from ancient texts that depending on your monetary possibilities, you could invest in various “quality bundles” for the mummification/embalming,” Stockhammer stated. The ancient Egyptians had no idea that microorganisms even existed, however through much trial and mistake, they discovered the right mixtures and treatments that maintained thousands of mummies even to this extremely day.