Conservation

After all the new information was discovered and her face was revealed, it was time to prepare her for her new home within this gallery. After almost 70 years of being on exhibit, the coffin and the mummy’s outer layers of wrapping needed to be cleaned and stabilized. A conservator, specially trained in the preservation of artifacts, carefully cleaned off accumulated dust, straightened the linen wrappings, and reattached some facial bones that had come loose. Special supports were then made and placed under her head and feet to keep them secure. Once she received this specialized treatment she was ready to return to the museum and share her cultural heritage with the Kalamazoo community.