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Abstract
During natural mummification in Predynastic Egypt (around 5000 BCE), bodies were preserved through exposure to the hot, dry desert sand. The Old Kingdom (approximately 2700−2200 BCE) marks the beginning of artificial mummification, which involved the use of natron (a mixture of sodium carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, and small amounts of chloride and sulfate), resins, and the removal of internal organs. There is also evidence that embalming agents, such as heated coniferous resins, plant extracts, and gums, were used during the Predynastic period.
The quality of mummification reached its peak during the New Kingdom (circa 1570 to 1069 BCE) but declined during the Ptolemaic and Greco-Roman periods (approximately [insert plate number here] to around 395 CE), eventually ceasing after the Arab conquest of Egypt in 641 CE.
The plastination technique can be viewed as an advanced form of traditional embalming. In this process, the cadaver is initially preserved in formalin through standard embalming procedures and then carefully dissected to showcase specific anatomical features. Following this, the specimens undergo dehydration via freeze substitution in acetone at -25˚C, which removes water and fat from the body tissues. The cadaver is then submerged in liquid plastic, which fills all the cavities and is gradually hardened using heat and ultraviolet light. The entire plastination process may take between four to twelve weeks to complete. Once treated, these cadavers can be sliced into cross-sections, making plastination a unique method for permanent preservation. CRD-420251052830
