Over the past five years the Hierakonpolis Expedition, under the direction of Renee Friedman, has been excavating a cemetery (HK43) of Predynastic Hierakonpolis’ working class inhabitants. Among the 260 burials so far uncovered we have found some which revealed evidence for what may be the very beginnings of artificial mummification. This took the form of wrapping the head and hands with pads of linen. Pottery found in association with these burials indicates a date not later than Nagada IIb (c. 3600BC)—a big surprize as it is a good 500 years before the next evidence of mummification will be found in a tomb of a king.

We have been fortunate to discover three well preserved examples of wrapped bodies. Each is special in its own way and may shed light on this strange practice and why it developed in the first place. We have several theories, but take a closer look for yourself and come to your own conclusions. From the evidence collected so far, it appears that this practice of padding the head and hands was restricted to women. No males were found treated in this fashion.

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