They were tied extremely tightly because they left a definitive imprint on the skin on the upper arms. Apparently, the bandages were held in place around the upper wrists and lower legs with knotted lengths of linen. It was originally believed that his hands and feet were found bound, but this could have been misinterpreted. The bandages that covered that layer were impregnated with an adhesive and could only be removed with a saw, which would have destroyed any inscriptions that were on the bandages (if there were any).
This natron had absorbed fat from the body and emitted a strong putrid odor when unwrapped. Beneath this were layers of thick linen, dating to the 18 th dynasty, and a layer of natron salts which were applied to the final layers of the bandages. The sheepskin still has some of the original white wool attached. The body was found wrapped in sheepskin, which for the Egyptians was a ritually unclean object.
This mummy has often been referred to as “The Screaming Mummy.” Unfortunately, this has led a few Egyptologists to assume he died a painful death, but more on that later. The first thing that everyone notices about the mummy is the internal scream that the face is locked in.
