A step by step process of how a body was prepared for mummification. The brain was removed along with all other major organs except the heart.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

RELATED CONTENT

How were mummies made? Scientists weigh in on a surprisingly complex process.

For years, scientists have been trying to figure out how Egyptians mummified their dead. Secrets of the trade were passed down from father to son, allowing the process to remain a closely guarded secret.

It was once thought that Egyptians used a hook to remove the brain through the nose while embalming bodies. However, it now seems that the brain was never removed and instead remained intact.

Archaeological chemist Stephen Buckley found that many of the substances used for mummification were foreign imports. He determined that an ancient trade network once existed, stretching across 4,000 miles.

Trepanation was a process seen in Peruvian mummies in which an ancient witch doctor cut out a portion of the human skull.

Ancient Egyptians were very selective about who would travel on to the afterlife and who wouldn't. Some mummies were physically damaged with the intent of damning them for eternity.