The excavation of two Egyptian tombs dating to the Roman period, between 29 B.C.E. and 641 C.E., just unveiled a wealth of artifacts — including two mummies with golden tongues. The limestone tombs contained more than 20 mummified bodies wrapped in colorful fabric,

Scent was an important consideration in the mummification process that used oils, waxes and balms to preserve the body and its spirit for the afterlife. The practice was largely reserved for pharaohs and nobility and pleasant smells were associated with purity and deities while bad odors were signs of corruption and decay.

Ancient Egyptian mummification techniques almost always focused on ensuring the best preservation possible. These methods developed over hundreds of years, and reflected different societal factors at those points in time.