The First Step in Mummification Was Removal of Internal Organs

Modern Egyptologists now have a precise grasp of how the mummification process was carried out in Ancient Egypt, as a consequence of decades of research using diverse approaches. Because internal organs degrade quickly, the first step was to remove all the deceased's internal organs. This was critical in order to arrest the breakdown process. Each organ was placed in one of four Canopic jars, each guarded by one of Horus' Four Sons.

To begin, special hooked tools were put into the brain through the nostrils. The brain was then shattered into tiny bits and extracted through the nostril. This was a sensitive operation in which the face could be disfigured, and it necessitated a high level of expertise. After that, a cut on the abdomen was made, usually on the left side. Except for the heart, all the body's organs were removed through it. Because the heart was supposed to be the center of a person's emotions and feelings, it was left in situ. As a result, separating it from the body was not a good idea.

All of this occurred within the first ten days of death. The body would lie in natron powder for the next 70 days, absorbing all the humidity but not blackening and hardening the skin. Finally, the body was cleansed and bandaged with linen.