What were mummies buried in?

After burial, living relatives were expected to occasionally bring food to the tomb and recite prayers on behalf of the deceased. Egyptians also believed that being mummified was the only way to have an afterlife. read more

Beloved pets were often mummified and buried with their owners, sometimes even in the same coffin. Pets that outlived their owners were often buried in the courtyards of their owners’ tombs. These animals were thought to serve as companions and good luck charms in the afterlife. read more

Many mummies were provided with some form of funerary literature to take with them to the afterlife. Most funerary literature consists of lists of spells and instructions for navigating the afterlife. read more

The mummies deteriorated in the humid climate of Lima and eventually they were either buried or destroyed by the Spanish. An attempt to find the mummies of the Inca emperors beneath the San Andres hospital in 2001 was unsuccessful. read more