Archaeologica.org

The ancient Egyptian practice of mummification may date back 1,500 years earlier than previously thought, an Australian-led study has discovered.

The findings, led by Macquarie University researchers and based on studies of bodies found in ancient Egyptian graves from up to 6,000 years ago, is published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

Previous research suggests that mummification began about 2,200BC, but the new research indicates the practice was already happening between 4,500BC and 3,350BC.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014 ... -to-4500bc

I have always thought there was some religious contradiction with deliberate mummification.
You do your best to preserve a body, but then send the sprit on to a “better place.”
Why the preservation?
If it is a better place the spirt is not coming back is it?

But then, that was in Egypt.
Maybe at this early time they wanted to keep the sprit around?
Kind of like the custom of burying under the floor of the house?

(I almost bought a house that had a mortared rock foundation.
It was built in the 1800’s in northern Illinois.
While inspecting the basement I noticed one of the rocks was a headstone.
It turns out that while the house was under construction the couple's less than year old baby died.
They did want forget her and wanted to keep her near.
I did not buy the house, but for other reasons.)