17. This Document Shows How to Make a Mummy
Modern science has examined mummies and determined how the ancient Egyptians created them. However, how exactly were those processes transmitted between generations of Egyptian morticians thousands of years ago? This papyrus gives a clue because it contains the instructions for mummifying a body. This 3500-year-old text explains how to use herbal medicine during the process. It says, “The red linen is then applied to the dead person’s face in order to encase it in a protective cocoon of fragrant and antibacterial matter. This process was repeated at four-day intervals.”
