Mummification

Self-mummification main Monks whose bodies remain incorrupt without any traces of deliberate mummification are venerated by some Buddhists who believe they successfully were able to mortify their flesh to death.

Summum In 1975, an esoteric organization by the name of Summum introduced "Modern Mummification", a service that utilizes modern techniques along with aspects of ancient methods of mummification.

The human mummification workshop is a rectangular mud brick building divided from the inside into a number of rooms.

Beginning in 5th millennium BCE and continuing for an estimated 3,500 years, all human burials within the Chinchorro culture were prepared for mummification.

Depending on culture and religion, these can involve either the destruction of the body (for example, by cremation or sky burial ) or its preservation (for example, by mummification or interment ).

Full-body mummification was achieved by these cultures, but not the level of artistic preservation as found on smaller islands.

General modern consensus tends to agree that there could be a mixture of both types of mummification, similar to that of the ancient Egyptian mummies.

If mummification was not affordable, a “ka-statue” in the likeness of the deceased was carved for this purpose.

In ancient Egypt, linen was used for mummification and for burial shrouds.

Large amounts of pine pollen were also found, consistent with the presence of resin used in mummification and some unburned linen was found and was determined to be similar to that used to wrap mummies.

Much of this early experimentation with mummification in Egypt is unknown.

Mummification in other cultures Africa In addition to the mummies of Egypt, there have been instances of mummies being discovered in other areas of the African continent.

Mummification was a way to preserve the corpse so the ka (soul) of the deceased could return to receive offerings of the things s/he enjoyed while alive.

Self-mummification was practiced until the late 1800s in Japan and has been outlawed since the early 1900s.

Some of these scientific advancements were related to the development of mummification.

The bodies show a mix of anthropogenic and spontaneous mummification, with some being thousands of years old.

The noted perfumers Guerlain and Jean Patou said that they could smell vanilla in the remains, also consistent with mummification.

There is still controversy, however, as to the nature of the mummification process.

Yet even mummification has a history of development and was accessible to different ranks of society in different ways during different periods.