Today the kidlets and I went to a class at the library on "MUMMIFICATION" ...
And our "victim" was a Chicken who had the unfortunate name of KING CLUCK...*LOL*
It was really interesting... First you take a small "uncooked" chicken... and then you just follow the rest of these directions... (which we only completed steps 1-7 at this particular class, the rest will be completed at a later date)...
Materials Needed:
- One chicken
- 4 containers of salt
- 1/2 cup spices (cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and such)
- paper towels
- plastic gloves
- zip-lock freezer bags (gallon size or larger)
- gauze strips
- plastic containers to hold chicken in bag (incase of leakage)
Procedure:
1. Wearing gloves, students will remove entrails from the chicken (Optional: These can be preserved in smaller baggies and put in baby food jars. Later, students can decorate the baby food jars with clay heads, turning them into canopic jars.)
2. At a sink, thoroughly rinse both inside and outside of chicken. Do this until the liquid runs clear.
3. Using paper towels (many will be needed), dry the chicken thoroughly inside and out, especially under the legs and wings. This is critical, since any moisture can create problems with the mummification process.
4. Rub the 1/2 cup of spices all over the chicken (inside and out). Any mixture of sweet-smelling (and cheap) spices will do. The purpose is to mask the odor of the decay which is about to take place.
5. Rub salt over the entire chicken, making sure that every inch is covered (and very dry).
6. Fill the cavity with salt.
7. Place the chicken in a Zip-loc bag. Seal the bag and place in a plastic tub (or bowl) in case the bag begins to leak. (As the process occurs, liquid will drain from the carcass).
8. Once a week for 4 or 5 weeks, open the bag and remove the chicken (be sure to wear gloves!). Weigh the chicken each time and record the weight. The chicken must be re-spiced, re-salted (inside the cavity and out), and replaced in a clean bag.
9. Repeat this process each week until no more liquid accumulates in the bag.
10. When the chicken is done, remove it from the bag. Then wrap it in gauze strips or ripped muslin strips. Decorate with handmade "authentic" Egyptian amulets, medallions, jewels, etc.
11. Create a sarcophagus for the mummy using shoe boxes. Spray box with gravel paint. Decorate with hieroglyphics and pictures of Egyptian gods.
12. Students can bury the sarcophagus (with mummy inside) and dig it up later in the year.
13. Students can keep a journal of the process.
