Although the terms are used interchangeably in elementary school history lessons, embalming and mummification are not the same. Mummification is an example of an embalming process. When you consider the types and evolution of embalming, you can see that the practice used today is similar, yet far removed, from the techniques used in ancient times.

I am always asked questions like, "So, what do you do with the intestines when you take them out?". It's amazing to me how little the public knows about modern embalming. I just chuckle and try to explain that modern embalming is not mummification. To better understand this, I have included the definitions of the terms:

Embalming: the process of chemically treating the dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to temporarily inhibit organic decomposition, and to restore and acceptable physical appearance so that ceremonies like viewings, vigils, and funerals can take place without offending the mourning attendees

Mummification: a practice used in Ancient Egypt to preserved dead human bodies through evisceration, dehydration, and bandaging to ready the body for the afterlife

As you can see, mummification is a type of embalming, but "embalming" is such a broad term that it covers many other methods of body preservation. To give you and idea of the different ways bodies can be preserved, we'll look at the mortuary practices performed around the ancient world.

The Egyptians that lived near the Nile River started by burying their dead in shallow graves in the sand. The drying effects of the desert usually preserved the bodies quite well, but they soon started using stone coffins for upper class bodies to deter decay. Since the coffins didn't preserve the bodies well, the Egyptians thought that the stone "ate" the bodies so they started making the coffins out of metal. A coffin like this was known as a sarcophagus..

The desire to preserve dead human remains led the Egyptians to care for their dead as they care for their meat, preserving them in similar ways. This included eviscerating the body and drying it out to preserve it. As you might remember, the brain was first removed through the nostril or eye socket and the cranium was packed with linen and resin. Then the rest of the viscera was removed to be treated and replaced or sealed in canopic jars to accompany the body. The body was then covered in Natron (salt) and left to set for about 20 days. When the Natron was removed, the body was dried in the sun. The body was then coated in and out with resin, wrapped, and spiced. Sometimes restorative art measures were taken and eyes were replaced with small stones or even onions and the mouth was packed with sawdust to fill out the cheeks. The remains were then casketed in sarcophagi and laid to rest.

As you can see, the process was both crude and innovative in preserving the dead human remains. But Egyptians weren't the only ones with a desire to preserve their dead. Many ethnicities and areas had their own mortuary practices.

Jews

The Hebrew people did not embalm dead bodies or attempt to preserve them. They still don't. They simply wrap the body in linens, and in the ancient times, Spices were used to mask the stench of decay.

Ancient Persians, Syrians, and Babylonians

These people have been known to immerse their dead in jars of honey or wax as a method of preservation. For instance, Alexander the Great died while on a military campaign and his body was preserved in a vat of honey inside a golden casket (according to legend) for the long trip home.

Ancient Ethiopians

They were known to eviscerate and dissect the dead bodies, cover them in plaster, and paint the plaster with lifelike colors.

Canary Islands

Their embalmers were both men and women, and each worked on their own sex. The intestines of the body were removed, washed, and returned. Then the body was covered in salt, and the anointed body was placed in the sun (or in a stove) to dry. This was an excellent method of preservation, but the remains were incredibly dry and as hard as wood.

Peru

Mummies have been found in Peru, but they didn't have embalmers or a method of embalming. The dry climate simply created the mummies.

Ecuador

Their method of preservation is extremely interesting. They shrunk their dead human remains! First, the bones of the skull were removed through an incision in the scalp, then the skin was boiled, hot stones were inserted into the head for awhile then removed. After the sutures pulled the skin back together, the head was perfectly proportionate, only it was the size of a man's fist!

Although many embalming practices were used throughout the ancient world (they still differ from place to place today), the modern practice of embalming has its roots in ancient ideas.

Today, we still use chemical processes to delay the advancement of decomposition in a human body. Today's embalming is not mummification. We (embalmers) are not in the business to make dead bodies last forever. Our job is to disinfect and delay composition as long as we need to and ensure that dead bodies are suitable for viewing.

In the Medieval European days, a group of men called The Barber-Surgeons. In those days, surgery wasn't performed by physicians, but by barbers! Their job duties evolved into caring for both the living and the dead. In fact, the traditional red and white barber's pole symbolizes dripping blood and bandages. The Barber-Surgeons often practiced blood-letting as a medical practice. The embalmers would perform their trade in homes, traveling around with portable embalming kits. They would drain the body's blood into collection jars using a hand pump and inject embalming chemicals to delay decomposition.

Early American embalming was kick started on the battlefields during the Civil War. Soldier that died in battle had to be preserved to be sent home for proper burial. The leading man that ran the show during this time was Dr. Thomas Holmes (commissioned by President Lincoln). When he realized the commercial properties of embalming, he started selling his trade to the public for $100. The popularity of embalming soon declined.

Then came the American cabinet makers and carpenters. Since they made furniture, they were often commissioned to make coffins for the dead. Becoming more and more involved in the process, they started to direct funerals and provide funeral "goods". These men became known as undertakers. They soon took on the task of embalming, and with the delay of decay, they had enough time to arrange funerals without haste. The first embalming solutions were arsenic based, and they converted to formaldehyde as soon as it became available. The fluids used today are still formaldehyde (or glutaraldehyde) based.

We use embalming today in order to disinfect dead human remains. Secondary reasons include preservation and restoration. Even though we use embalming to delay decomposition, it still takes place, just at a much slower rate. The process is different from that of ancient times, but some key elements still exist.

First the body is positioned to lay with the arms over the stomach. Then the body is washed and features are "set" (close the eyes and mouth). The arterial solution in mixed in an embalming machine and an incision is made somewhere on the body (neck or groin) to "raise" (locate and isolate) a main artery and corresponding vein. Then a tube that runs from the machine to a cannula (large hollow needle) inserted in the artery and it injects the embalming fluid under pressure. As the embalming fluid circulates throughout the body, the blood is pushed out and drained from the vein. In America, the blood is usually drained onto the embalming table and down the gutters into a sink. In Europe, it is common practice to drain the blood by using tubes for less of a mess. After the arterial embalming is complete, the tubes are removed and the incision(s) are sutured.

The cavity embalming process follows arterial embalming. A very large hollow tube with a sharp end (called a "trocar"...also my dog's name) is inserted into the abdomen. The various organs are not removed like in ancient embalming practices. Instead, they are punctured and "aspirated" (suck out the gasses and fluids). Suction is used to do this and it's like vacuuming out the inside of the body. The contents run through a tube and down a drain with running water. Then the same instrument (trocar) is used to introduce the very concentrated cavity embalming chemicals. Gravity embalming is used. That means that the embalmer has to hold the embalming fluid bottle above her head and let gravity pull the fluid from the bottle, down the tube, through the trocar, and into the bodily organs. When that process is done, a small "trocar button" is screwed into the puncture hole to seal the abdomen and prevent leakage.

The body is then rewashed, the hair is done, the fingernails are cleaned, and cream is applied to the face and hands to prevent dehydration and keep the skin from looking like jerky. Cosmetics are applied later (I like to wait until after dressing the body to avoid smudging the makeup).

As you can see, modern embalming is much different than the mummification practices used by the Ancient Egyptians. That's because the goals are different. Instead of readying bodies for the afterlife, today's embalmers are out to save the public by disinfecting bodies and temporarily delaying decomposition. Of course, without the Egyptian's pioneering of mortuary practices, who knows how we'd take care of the dead today? The world might be a very different place.

Meet Emma Balmer at www.lacynjordan.com