Mystery of the Painted Mummy

Massive tombs found beneath the ruins of the Bubasteum, a temple in Saqqara, continue to astound archaeologists and change how we view Egyptian society during the Late Period. In this episode, we open a stunningly well-preserved painted coffin to find the mummy of a wealthy young woman. High-resolution scanning technology and x-rays reveal tragic secrets that create a picture of what family life might have looked like over 2,500 years ago. Also, the discovery of an ornate bronze statue provides a snapshot of Egypt as an incredibly well-connected trading network.