AncientEgyptianEmbalmingWorkshopRevealsSophisticatedMummyPractices

An archaeological team led by the University of Tübingen and the Supreme Council of Antiquities has unearthed a massive embalming workshop dating to the 26th Dynasty (664-525 BCE) near the pyramid of Unas in Saqqara, Egypt. The discovery included numerous vessels containing residues of oils, resins, and other substances used in mummification, as well as measuring cups and ritual bowls. Chemical analysis of the residues identified specific ingredients like cedar oil, juniper resin, pistacia resin, and beeswax, meticulously categorized and labeled for various stages of the embalming process. This provides unprecedented insight into the highly organized and sophisticated industry behind Egyptian mummification. The surprising implication is the degree of standardization and chemical knowledge possessed by ancient Egyptian embalmers, akin to a modern pharmaceutical operation.