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The botanical aspects of ancient Egyptian embalming and burial

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Abstract

The ancient Egyptian art of embalming, a highly developed process, involved many plants and plant products. Thirty-one genera of plants have been mentioned by various writers in the operations of embalming, cosmetic application, wrapping and coffin construction. The materials employed and methods of use have interested scholars of all periods. Herodotus gave the earliest account of the various aspects of embalming.

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Prepared for the course in economic botany, Harvard University, under the direction of Dr. Albert F. Hill.

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Baumann, B.B. The botanical aspects of ancient Egyptian embalming and burial. Econ Bot 14, 84–104 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859368

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