They’ve been perfectly preserved for thousands of years with their facial features still distinguishable today.
Now, researchers have discovered how Egyptian mummies still look so good – and it’s all to do with a carefully curated embalming recipe.
Experts have revealed that ancient Egyptians were masters in chemistry and knew exactly what ingredients were needed to stop flesh from decaying.
Newly unearthed embalming recipes, used around 2,700 years ago, included tree resin, juniper and beeswax.
Some of these had been imported from as far as Southeast Asia and had important antibacterial properties, experts said.
Researchers have discovered how Egyptian mummies still look so good – and it’s all to do with a carefully curated embalming recipe.
An international team of researchers analyzed 31 ceramic vessels that had been recovered from an embalming workshop in Saqqara – one of ancient Egypt’s most important cemeteries.
Ancient Egyptians’ embalming recipe
The embalming recipe contained:
– Elemi resin
Pistachio tree resin
Beeswax
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