Dried, tanned, frozen, embalmed, smoked: A glimpse into mummification mechanisms

Mummification as a cultural practice appears in many forms around the world with varying degrees of complexity and ultimately generates different levels of overall body preservation. Understanding the methods involved allows for the researcher to distinguish which features of a mummified individual are from human intervention and which are due to natural taphonomic processes. To that end, there are many ways a body can mummify naturally, and a basic understanding of the conditions that allow for this to occur versus decomposition can give insight into the environment the individual was exposed to at the time of death. Knowing perimortem environmental conditions is useful for both forensic and archaeological purposes. This chapter will provide an overview of the decomposition process and what is required for mummification to occur, as well as practical examples of both natural and artificial mummies from different regions around the world.