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The Science of Monsters

The mummification process would take up to seventy days to complete. Because of the elaborate process, mummification was expensive. Although some common people were buried like mummies, it was mostly prevalent for pharaohs and members of nobility. That being said, it’s interesting to note that some animals were also mummified, especially if they were considered to have religious significance. There are even cases of “self-mummifying” found in Buddhist culture. Sokushinbutsu is the practice of reducing food and water intake to eventually die and become a mummy.

A depiction of the mummification process in ancient Egypt.

How were bodies treated for burial in other cultures? In Persia, bodies were placed on a high rock and left for birds and dogs to devour. After the bones had been stripped, they were buried in a pit. Ancient Mayans buried their dead with corn in their mouths as a symbol of rebirth. Romans believed in keeping the living and the dead separate and only buried bodies outside of the city walls while ancient Greeks believed the afterlife existed underground.⁴

When did embalming become common practice? The anatomy acts of 1832 and 1883 allowed medical professionals to make many medical and scientific discoveries. Previous to this law, only the corpses of executed murderers could be used for the study of anatomy. Some medical schools were resorting to grave robbery to learn about and practice dissection. By allowing the dead to be used more readily, advancements were made in how to embalm bodies. Embalming bodies, as we do today, came into common practice during the Civil War.⁵

Many horror movies have scenes that take place in funeral homes or mortuaries. I’m Not a Serial Killer (2016) features several scenes of embalming and funeral home work. The Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House (2018) explores death and how the viewing of a deceased loved one could be cathartic. What are the current scientific practices in embalming bodies or preparing them for burial? The first step is to wash the body in a disinfectant solution. Limbs are massaged to relieve the stiffening of the joints and muscles and the body’s eyes are closed using glue or plastic eye caps. The lower jaw is secured by wires or sewing and can be manipulated into a desired position. During the surgical portion of the embalming process, blood is removed from the body through the veins and replaced with formaldehyde-based chemicals. Next, the body’s cavities are embalmed. A small incision is made in the lower part of the abdomen and the organs in the chest cavity and abdomen are punctured and drained of gas and fluid contents. Once the incision is closed, the process is complete. For those choosing an open casket for their funeral, hair is washed and styled and makeup is applied. How did or do people around the world hold funerals for the dead? In some cultures, it was thought that the best way to honor the dead was to eat them. Endocannibalism was practiced in parts of Papua New Guinea and Brazil and thought to create a permanent connection between the living and the dead. In funeral practices of the Marinoa people of Australia, corpses were left to decompose and the liquid from the body was collected. The thought was that the good qualities of the person who died would be passed on through this liquid so it was rubbed on others.⁶

More modern funeral and burial practices include cremation, turning the deceased’s body into beads, and other environmentally friendly techniques. Some people are choosing to skip embalming and instead be buried in biodegradable coffins. Whatever you choose to do with your remains, hopefully you can rest peacefully knowing that scientific advances have only helped our chances of avoiding problems that The Mummy had.

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