No 255. Third (Innermost) Coffin of Gold. 6.
Remarks.
Collarette
When the coffin was discovered a collarette of real flowers
intermingled with faience beads, sewn to a sheet of papyrus, was
attached to the headdress by cords, passed under the beard and
covered the lower part of the ears and chest. (See No 255A).
Linen Cloth
Over the headdress and tucked between it and the sides of the
second coffin was a linen cloth (See No 255A).
Shroud.
Covering the whole of the body of the coffin from the neck to the
feet inclusive was a thick warmish-coloured linen shroud tightly
stretched and tucked in round the ends and sides. (See No 255B).
Pitch-like Material
When the linen covering and the collarette were removed the
coffin was found to be covered with a thick black pitch-like
layer which extended from the hands down to the ankles. This was
obviously an anointing liquid (see separate chemical note) which
had been poured over the coffin during the burial ceremony and in
great quantity (some two buckets full). This liquid had filled in
the whole of the space
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