Our first lady was found in undisturbed Burial 71. She was found covered in matting and buried with seven pots, one still with its lid in place. In one pot, placed behind her head beneath the matting, there were round loaves of bread almost 6000 years old. However, the loaves owe their excellent preservation to the fact that they contain very few actual grains, being composed mainly of chaff – showing that the practice of making false offerings for the dead has a very long history.

Beneath the matting, her body was covered in a linen shroud, but in addition, her neck and her hands were found bound in linen. This can be seen around the jaw and the arms where clumps of cloth had been used to pad the body parts. Examination of this resin-soaked linen has revealed that this wrapping was carefully done. Only the finest linen was against the skin, while outer wrappings became progressively coarser.

Further examination of her remains has revealed what appears to be one of her internal organs also wrapped in resin-soaked linen before being returned to the chest cavity where it was recovered. This suggests that alreacdy at this time, evisceration, perhaps in order to retard putrifaction, was being practiced, making this lady truly one of Egypt'sfirst mummies.

Aged 20-25 at the time of her death, she had the second richest burial with regard to the number of grave goods so far found.

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