The idea of immortality has always fascinated humans. So, how ancient Egyptians used mummies to preserve 'life', has had people curious for decades.
The 70-day process of mummifying someone made sure, according to ancient Egyptians, that the soul got an afterlife.
PHOTO: UNSPLASHResearchers have used chemistry and an unusual collection of jars to figure out how the ancient Egyptians did it.
photo: unsplashThe research is based on an uncommon discovery: Jars dating back 2,500 years ago, with instructions like "to wash" or "to put on his head" written on them.
By matching the writing on the outside of the vessels with the chemical traces inside, the recipe to preserve bodies for thousands of years has been uncovered.
The 'workshop' was uncovered in 2016 and is located in the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo. Parts of it sit above the surface, with a burial chamber underground.
PHOTO: APThis research helped fill in the blanks about mummification. It helped find materials used in the final steps: plant oils for liver, beeswax for stomach and skin, etc.
The next and final next step in the research will be to test different parts of actual mummies to see if the substance matches the ceramics.
GIF: unsplashThe heart was left in the body because it was considered to be the centre of intelligence. The brain was thrown away because it was thought to be useless.
PHOTO: UNSPLASH