Dig Discovery – Egyptian Mummies

Experience the thrill of discovery as you unearth a mystery from ancient history. Using the tools provided, dig your way through the plaster block to discover three replica mummies.

Mummification became an integral part of the Egyptian rituals for the dead about 2800 BC. Egyptians saw the preservation of the body after death as an important step to living well in the afterlife. Millions of human and animal mummies have been discovered, many of them cats. Burial practices became a status symbol for the wealthy which led to the creation of elaborate tombs with fabulous treasure buried alongside the mummy. The first and most important step in mummification was to halt the process of decomposition by removing the internal organs and washing out the body with a mix of spices and palm wine. After dehydration, the mummy was wrapped in many layers of linen cloth. Within the layers, Egyptian priests placed small amulets to guard the decedent from evil. The internal organs were dried and either sealed in individual jars, or wrapped to be replaced within the body. The process typically took forty days.