After 3500 years, the secrets of the mummifcation process have been unlocked, tried and tested. Dr Stephen Buckley and his archaeological-forensic partner, Jo Fletcher, have spent 19 years attempting to rediscover the science of how the Egyptians preserved their dead so well, all that was left was to try out their discoveries.
Alan Billis, a normal, family man responded to an advertisement for a terminally-ill person to donate their body to the cause of science; not that his family were shocked at his decision upon telling them the news, apparently this is typical-Alan! This gave way to a documentary, aired on Channel 4 about the process of the mummification but also in part a tribute to Alan.
The programme dispelled myths of gory removing brains through noses but revealed the sentimental and respectfulness of the act. This was in part an ode to the person, preserving them so they could be recognised by the soul. The process itself is rather fascinating, especially to say this was carried out in 1550-1292 BC! The body was fully embalmed, all organs were removed except for the heart and brain which were viewed as the living places of the soul, then the body was restuffed with linen pouches to give it back it's shape. Then came the speculation and science behind the mummifcation process, for thousands of years no one fully understood how this could happen, the decomposition of humans is a natural process, how possibly could one delay it? Then came the answer, Natron. Natron is a salt specific to Egypt, when mixed with chemicals, water and with a body is submerged in it quite chemical burns appear on the skin but also the solidification of the fat tissue commences. Alan was brushed in a wax to protect his body from the chemical burns and was submerged in this liquid.
35 days passed, Alan's surely decompossed body was pulled out of the Natron-tub, to be examined, yet no decomposition was discovered at all. They had cracked the mummification process further than anyone else had in thousands of year, now was to dry out the body and wrap him up which helps the moisture to leave the body, aiding the preservation.
After a further 6 weeks, Alan's body was checked for signs of full mummification which, to everyones amazement, were duely found. The scientist have discovered the mysteries which have held us back from fully understanding Ancient-Egypt; they are now leaving the body to further mummify before checking for progression. This truely is an amazing discovery for not only science, but history.
