In a discovery that’s reshaping our understanding of ancient Egyptian mortuary practices, a remarkably well-preserved 5,600-year-old mummy has provided definitive evidence that embalming techniques were used over 1,500 years earlier than previously thought. This stunning revelation, backed by a new study in the Journal of Archaeological Science, challenges long-held assumptions about when and how Egyptians began preparing their dead for the afterlife.

The mummy, uncovered from a prehistoric burial site, displays chemical traces of resins, plant oils, and preservatives—materials previously associated only with much later dynastic mummification. These substances were found on linen wrappings and within the body itself, indicating that intentional embalming was not a later innovation, but rather an established practice as early as 3600 BCE, during Egypt’s pre-dynastic period. The composition of the embalming agents shows a sophisticated understanding of preservation, including antibacterial and anti-decomposition properties.

Lead researcher Fred and his team emphasize the significance of this find: not only does it push the timeline of embalming back by over a millennium and a half, but it also suggests that the roots of Egypt’s iconic funerary tradition were deeply embedded in its earliest religious and cultural beliefs. This ancient mummy may not just be a relic of the past—it may be a missing link that connects primitive desert burials to the elaborate rituals of pharaohs and pyramids. As science peels back the wrappings of time, we continue to uncover just how advanced—and spiritually devoted—ancient Egyptians truly were.