Timeline of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

Egyptian mummification evolved over three millennia:

• Begins: Early Dynastic Period, c. 3100 BCE (early experiments with resin and linen).
• Peak Sophistication: New Kingdom (1550–1070 BCE), especially 18th–20th Dynasties (e.g., Tutankhamun, Ramesses II).
• Declines: Late Period through Ptolemaic era; quality varies.
• Ends: c. 400 CE (Late Roman Period), as Christianity spreads and traditional funerary rites cease.

The practice spanned ~3,500 years, from simple desiccation in desert sands to elaborate evisceration, natron dehydration, resin coating, and ritual wrapping.