Ginger: The Oldest Mummy of Ancient Egypt

Ginger, the oldest naturally mummified body discovered in Egypt, was found in 1900 at the Gebelein cemetery in South Thebes. Dating back 5,500 years to the Late Pre-Dynastic period, he predates the first pharaohs. His nickname comes from his remarkably well-preserved wavy, blond hair. Ginger likely belonged to the Naqada Culture, a civilization that thrived before the rise of dynastic Egypt. People of this period were of Caucasoid appearance, with varying hair colors ranging from dark and reddish-brown to blond and even red. His naturally mummified state offers valuable insights into early Egyptian burial practices before artificial mummification became common.