Gebelein Man, who died 5,500 years ago, is one of ancient Egypt’s best-preserved individuals.
The Gebelein Man, also known as “Ginger” or the “Gebelein Predynastic Mummy,” is the name given to a naturally mummified body that was discovered in the Egyptian desert in 1896. The mummy dates back to the Predynastic period of ancient Egypt, which is thought to have lasted from around 5500 BCE to 3100 BCE.
The Gebelein Man was found along with several other mummies, and is notable for being one of the oldest known examples of an Egyptian mummy with preserved skin and hair. The body was naturally mummified due to the dry desert environment, and was buried in a shallow pit in a crouched position. The mummy was wrapped in animal skin and was found with a simple set of grave goods, including a clay pot and some flint blades.
The Gebelein Man is named after the town of Gebelein, which is located in Upper Egypt near where the mummy was found. The mummy is also sometimes referred to as “Ginger” due to the reddish color of its hair.
The Gebelein Man is now housed in the British Museum in London, where it has been on display since 1901. The mummy has been the subject of extensive research and analysis, and has provided valuable insights into the lives and customs of the people who lived in ancient Egypt during the Predynastic period.
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