Ancient Egyptians left embalmed bodies in Yorkshire

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Professor Joann Fletcher says remains dating from Roman times show the practice had spread from North Africa to the Yorkshire town

Already discovered a gypsum cast dug up near Barnsley which would have covered the embalmed, linen-wrapped body of a child

It is not exactly the first place you would expect to find 2,000-year-old mummies.

But that is precisely what a leading Egyptologist suspects are hidden beneath the streets of Barnsley, it emerged yesterday.

Television archaeologist Professor Joann Fletcher says remains dating from Roman times show the practice had spread from North Africa to the Yorkshire town.

Ancient clue: The gypsum cast - which covered a child's embalmed, linen-wrapped body - found in York

History: Experts hope relics much like this gold mask of ancient pharaoh king Tutankhamen might be lurking underneath the streets of Barnsley 

Now she hopes that the extraordinary prospect of finding a preserved mummy may result from digs on undisturbed burial plots in the area.

After Egyptians became part of the Roman Empire following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 31BC, they travelled throughout Europe, taking their burial practices with them, experts believe.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2428906/Mummies-Barnsley-Ancient-Egyptians-left-embalmed-bodies-Yorkshire.html#ixzz2fjYmDn1r