ABSTRACT
There are many and varied artifacts discovered in association with mummified human remains, yet not held directly within the wrappings or remains themselves. These artifacts can range from musical instruments to weapons, from ceramics to food items. In all cases, these artifacts seem intended for use by the deceased in the afterlife. In order to separate these cultural materials from those associated directly with the remains or the wrappings, the concept of “artifacts of the external context” has been adopted for this text. The external context therefore refers to those artifacts directly associated with a burial or with the community at large but not within the wrappings or remains. Many of the artifacts associated with the external context of mummified remains or grave goods are no longer to be found in their original context but in museum displays or collection rooms across the globe.
