The ancient Egyptians developed perhaps the most sophisticated methods of bodily preservation, which was used on humans and well as animals. Cats, dogs, bulls, mice, hawks, ibises, crocodiles, and other pets of rulers or sacred animals were also carefully preserved and entombed. After removing the internal organs, the body was washed inside and out with astringent palm wine and then filled with pounded aromatics such as myrrh, cassia, and cinnamon. The body was then kept covered in natron, a type of salt mined from dry lake beds near the Nile River which accelerated the dehydration of the body. After a period of several months, the body was washed again and wrapped with bands of fine linen smeared on their inside with gum, which the Egyptians used instead of glue. Essentially, mummification prevents decay by allowing the body to slowly release moisture; the skin and muscles become rigid and the tissues shrink, adhering to the skeleton.


Image: a nineteenth-century dehydrated crocodile head
taken from Finch & Company, online dealers in curiosities.Although mummification was capable of preserving the features of the deceased with amazing accuracy, since the technique involved drying bodies rather than removing and stuffing the skin, mummification cannot properly be considered taxidermy. However, the methods of preventing decay with spices, salts, and fragrant substances were later used by taxidermists.  For this reason, it is not surprising that some of the earliest taxidermy was prepared by apothecaries (an early word for pharmacists), who had knowledge of secret herbal formulae and access to all variety of spices and preservatives as well as the curious creatures worthy of preservation that merchants were returning with from distant lands.