The Human Mummification Project
The ancient Egyptians practiced mummification for over 2000 years, but they never wrote down how they did it. In 1994, egyptologist Bob Brier decided that the only way to figure this out was to attempt to duplicate what they did, by mummifying a body. Brier collaborated with Ronn Wade, director of the Maryland State Anatomy Board. They obtained the body of a man in his late seventies who had died of a heart attack. His name has never been made public. The man had signed up to be a body donor, though of course he would have had no idea he was going to be mummified. His family was only told that his body was being used for a "long-term research project." Brier's mummification project was featured in a 1994 National Geographic documentary (below). The mummy they produced still resides at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. More info: The Maryland Mummy, "Surgical procedures during ancient Egyptian mummification," "Making a Modern Mummy"
The ancient Egyptians practiced mummification for over 2000 years, but they never wrote down how they did it. In 1994, egyptologist Bob Brier decided that the only way to figure this out was to attempt to duplicate what they did, by mummifying a body.
Brier collaborated with Ronn Wade, director of the Maryland State Anatomy Board. They obtained the body of a man in his late seventies who had died of a heart attack. His name has never been made public. The man had signed up to be a body donor, though of course he would have had no idea he was going to be mummified. His family was only told that his body was being used for a "long-term research project."
Brier's mummification project was featured in a 1994 National Geographic documentary (below). The mummy they produced still resides at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.
More info: The Maryland Mummy, "Surgical procedures during ancient Egyptian mummification," "Making a Modern Mummy"
Brier collaborated with Ronn Wade, director of the Maryland State Anatomy Board. They obtained the body of a man in his late seventies who had died of a heart attack. His name has never been made public. The man had signed up to be a body donor, though of course he would have had no idea he was going to be mummified. His family was only told that his body was being used for a "long-term research project."
Brier's mummification project was featured in a 1994 National Geographic documentary (below). The mummy they produced still resides at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.
More info: The Maryland Mummy, "Surgical procedures during ancient Egyptian mummification," "Making a Modern Mummy"
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