As the president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Houston, Texas, Joel Bartsch coordinates and leads museum curators/staff in establishing educational programming, managing growing membership, and creating immersive exhibitions. One unique exhibit at Joel A. Bartsch's institution is a display of real mummies and accompanying artifacts. The concept behind the mummification of dead bodies in ancient Egypt was to keep the bodies as dry as possible in an effort to prevent putrefaction of the bodies for centuries. Clever methods were developed during various prehistoric Egyptian eras, and the majority of these methods have proven efficient as the mummified bodies have maintained morphological characteristics thousands of years after. The classical mummification method, the approach used between the 18th and 20th dynasties, involved removing a large amount of brain tissue from the skull by passing a hook-like tool through the ethmoid opening in the nose region. The reason for this approach is to preserve the shape of the skull so that the deceased can be recognized. Another opening was created in the left flank of the abdomen. Through the hole, the stomach, intestine, liver, and lungs were pulled out. These organs were stored in special containers called "canopic jars." As part of the Egyptian rituals, these jars were usually buried with the mummified bodies. The rest of the body used to be dried in salt water for days. Afterward, the priests in charge of the mummification wrapped the bodies in linen while a few other rituals are performed.

1. The Classical Mummification Process Overview
Joel Bartsch

2. Introduction
As the president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Houston,
Texas, Joel Bartsch coordinates and leads museum curators/staff in establishing
educational programming, managing growing membership, and creating immersive
exhibitions. One unique exhibit at Joel A. Bartsch's institution is a display of real
mummies and accompanying artifacts.

3. The concept behind the mummification of dead bodies in ancient Egypt was to keep
the bodies as dry as possible in an effort to prevent putrefaction of the bodies for
centuries. Clever methods were developed during various prehistoric Egyptian eras,
and the majority of these methods have proven efficient as the mummified bodies
have maintained morphological characteristics thousands of years after.

4. The classical mummification method, the approach used between the 18th and 20th
dynasties, involved removing a large amount of brain tissue from the skull by
passing a hook-like tool through the ethmoid opening in the nose region. The reason
for this approach is to preserve the shape of the skull so that the deceased can be
recognized. Another opening was created in the left flank of the abdomen. Through
the hole, the stomach, intestine, liver, and lungs were pulled out. These organs were
stored in special containers called "canopic jars." As part of the Egyptian rituals,
these jars were usually buried with the mummified bodies.

5. The rest of the body used to be dried in salt water for days. Afterward, the priests in
charge of the mummification wrapped the bodies in linen while a few other rituals
are performed.