This vividly documents the tragedy that befell millions of Egyptian mummies. The mummy trade would typically begin with the unrolling of bandages and the stripping of embalmed bodies by scavengers and merchants. This trade was not limited to mummy linens; cotton and linen remnants from the textile industry were also sold for the same industrial purpose. Reportedly, an entrepreneur named Isaiah Derrick suggested importing mummy wrappings from Egypt as a viable alternative for these rags. Consequently, the trade of mummy linens flourished between Egypt and America, either through direct channels or via English intermediaries—until the unthinkable occurred.

Source: Egypt Independent February 05, 2026 13:09 UTC