Learning About the Mummification Process in Ancient Egypt!

Year 1 have been learning about the Ancient Egyptians this term in History. Through their learning they have come to know the process of ‘mummification’. Children rolled up their sleeves and experimented with mummifying an apple! They used; Apples, salt, baking soda and cups to recreate the drying process.

So What happened? ~the Science behind the fun

Over a couple of weeks, The students were able to see that one of the apple slices had rotted. The slice covered in the salt and baking soda mixture didn’t therofre it had been successfully mummified! Salt and baking soda are desiccants. Desiccants remove water from any material it comes into contact with. Bacteria that cause rotting and decay need water to survive. Salt and baking soda remove the water from the apple, which makes it hard for bacteria to survive and cause decay.

Ancient Egyptians use a similar method to preserve human bodies after death. They used natron, a naturally occurring desicant, to mummify bodies.