A Study on the Preservation of Exhumed Mummies by Plastination

Due to the great importance of mummies for archeological research, methods have to be developed to preserve these specimens. Two preserved mummies (died 410 and 380 years ago) were exhumed and plastinated to avoid deterioration from exposure. They were first re-fixed with formalin and dehydrated at room temperature in a graded series of acetone solutions. The corpses were then preimpregnated, force impregnated with silicone and subsequently cured all at room temperature. Histological studies were performed before and after plastination on pieces of lung, liver, kidney, heart, spleen and skin. Plastination improved the color and flexibility of the mummies and will permanently preserve them.