concocting complex and effective mixtures to preserve their dead as far back as 4300 B.C., new evidence suggests.]]> deliberate mummification by their survivors.]]> effective mixtures to preserve their dead as far back as 4300 B.C., new evidence suggests.]]> regenerate," he said.]]> sequential thermal desorption/pyrolysis, he took small samples of the textiles and separated them into their individual chemical components.]]> terrestrial."]]> thesis was on identifying the ingredients of resin used in mummification during the classical Egyptian period.]]> chemistry and an interest in Egyptology.]]> aromatic extracts and natural petroleum.]]> height until the Middle Kingdom (2000-1600 B.C.).]]> preserved naturally from burial in the hot and dry desert sand and not through any deliberate mummification by their survivors.]]> assumed they were preserved naturally from burial in the hot and dry desert sand and not through any deliberate mummification by their survivors.]]> accepted by Egyptologists that mummification did not start in Egypt until the time of the Old Kingdom (around 2500 B.C.), and that it didn't reach its height until the Middle Kingdom (2000-1600 B.C.).]]> background in organic chemistry and an interest in Egyptology.]]> analysis revealed other interesting results.]]>