The Ancient Egyptians were famous for their embalming methods and mummification – that is, the treatment and preservation of bodies. We are endeavouring to mummify a chicken, using similar methods to the Ancient Egyptians.  We bought a fresh chicken – King Cluck - and he has not been in a fridge since. King Cluck came with his innards already removed so the first thing we needed to do was to thoroughly wash and dry him.

Then we covered him with a mixture of salt and baking soda and placed him in a large zip lock bag.

This mixture was changed daily for the first few days, then every two or three days after that. It has created a lot of interest and we have had several guest 'embalmers' e.g. Hannah from the Berekoven family, taking time out from her sailing 'journey of discovery', Miss Walker all decked out in her SES gear 'just in case', and Mrs Jupp, who took a break from gardening and joined Mrs Baker in the embalming process.

We will show him at our Assembly and ask one brave child and one brave adult to do a 'whiff test'.

Every picture tells a story! Here it is:

After about 45 days, King Cluck can be removed from the bag. He will be washed and dried again, rubbed with oil and sprinkled with spice, such as rosemary. Then he will be wrapped with strips of cloth and coated with lacquer. Our mummified chicken will need a 'sarcophagus' (or coffin) and a ‘cartouche’. Chantelle has been busy decorating a shoe box coffin for King Cluck and it looks beautiful!

A cartouche is a name plate for a special individual. King Cluck’s cartouche looks like this:   

We will give King Cluck a burial at some stage and the theory is, if we dig him up a year from now, his body will still be dried and therefore preserved.

Please check back here to see how we are going and view more great pictures of our progress!

FORTY FIVE DAYS LATER!   

Cluck dried out really nicely and there was surprisingly little smell. His body shape certainly altered and he became much flatter. By the end of the process we were only changing the salt mixture once a week and it literally flowed out of his chest cavity, the best indicator yet that he was ready for the next stage in the mummification process. He was thoroughly washed and dried again, removing all trace of any salt. Then he was anointed with oil and sprinkled with spice. We chose Rosemary, for remembrance.

Earlier we had cut and rolled 'mountains' of linen bandages. Then we commenced the wrapping process and let me tell you, it wasn't easy! Cluck was very slippery and our gloves kept getting caught up in the wrapping. Once he was covered and we were able to work without gloves, it was a much easier task.

Here he is, all wrapped up.

King Cluck was decorated with 'jewels' and sprayed with lacquer. His sarcophagus also received some more loving attention, and finally Cluck was placed on a bed of shiny, grey satin material. And, doesn't he look gorgeous?

Our only task now is to bury him which we will do next week. We will pick a suitable place out of the way and place him in a garbage bag to protect his cardboard sarcophagus. A cairn will mark his position. A year from now we will dig him up and inspect his condition. You never know- there may still be pink flesh.

And here is Cluck's resting place!

WE SHALL SEE WHAT WE SHALL SEE! 

Want to see what I looked like in twelve months time?  CLICK HERE!