Tours: Natron

Learn about the uses of natron, and how it was mined and farmed in ancient Egypt.
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|-|An Ancient Salt=
Natron is a colorless salt that was used by ancient Egyptians for food preservation, cleansing products and glassmaking. It was also used in the mummification process.
|-|Dessicating the Body=
During the ceremonial embalmment ritual, the priests packed the body in natron in order to remove all of the moisture.
Once the body was thoroughly desiccated, they could begin the wrapping.
|-|Natron Mine=
Natron was mined in . The main mining methods involved either cutting slices out of the lakebed when it was dry, or raking through mineral-saturated water to gather the mineral salts during the floods.
|-|Inspiration=
(Behind the Scenes)
Both techniques are still used today, and inspired the team in their recreation of the mines located in the mountains northwest of Memphis.
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Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt