Spencer's+Report


 * __ What is a mummy? __**

A mummy is a dead body that has been put in a cave, buried in a bog, frozen, or dried out. You will learn about cave, bog, ice, and Egyptian mummies.

**__ Cave mummies __**

Dead people in Caves do not decay or rot, and became mummies by preserving. There are natural conditions there is dryness, cool temperatures. 50 Fahrenheit minerals that contain salt to preserve. Their relatives put them in caves.


 * __ Bog Mummies  __**

Bog mummies have been found in many countries… in Europe. Over 2,000 mummies in Bogs have been found. A bog is a swamp with cold water and mud, and no air. Germs do not live there because of acid. Acids in peat make the skin turn dark brown and make hair and wool clothing a red rusty color. There was one mummy called Tolland man that died 2, 400 years ago. You could see his hat on his head and his whiskers on his face because he was so well preserved he needs a shave! Bog mummies have been found in many countries… in Europe. Over 2,000 mummies in Bogs have been found. Some of the bog mummies were killed in mean ways, hung or hit on the head.


 * __Ice Mummies __**

An ice mummy is made when a person dies and freezes in cold, usually on mountain tops! Gorge Mallory tried to climb Mount Everest he didn’t come back. Mountain climbers found him frozen on a mountain top. He was frozen for 75 years. A mummy named the ice man was frozen 5, 000 years ago. Hikers in the border between Austria and Italy found the Iceman. His last meal was bread and he got shot with an arrow in the shoulder. This killed him and then he froze in a glacier.


 * __Egyptian mummies __**

Egyptian mummies are not made naturally but, the ice mummies, and bog mummies and cave mummies are made naturally. The Egyptians believed that they would go to another world after dying on Earth. They mummified people so the ba and ka would recognize them. First, the inner organs like the brain, liver, and stomach were removed from the dead body. Then they put wrapped natron in the dead body. They covered the body with natron for forty days. Natron is a salty chemical found in the Nile River. The embalmers put resin, a sticky brown yellow substance, on the dead body to make the skin have a hard coating and keep water from getting in. The embalmers decorated the dead body. 150 layers of linen were wrapped around the dead body. They glued the linen strips together with resin. They put a mask on next. Next the mummy goes in the coffin, a case. Sometimes the embalmers put in food for the mummy. They painted a head on the front of the coffin; the rest of the coffin was covered with gold.

You have now learned that there are four kinds of mummies, not just one kind of mummy that is wrapped up.