Ancient Canine Mummy Sheds Light on Egyptian Burial Practices

A discovery at Utah State University is unraveling mysteries that could have ties to ancient Egypt.

Senior Sascha Baldauf is uncovering evidence that mummified remains transferred to the USU Museum of Anthropology belong to a canine species, challenging early assumptions and deepening the understanding of animal mummification practices.

“The artifact came to us with little information,” she said. “We wanted to figure out not only what was inside but the timeline and age of the bundle as well.”

Baldauf began her research journey as a freshman when she first visited the university’s anthropology museum and became involved in undergraduate research in her field. Fascinated by ancient artifacts, she seized the opportunity to study the mysterious mummy bundle, eventually developing an agreement with the USU Honors Program and formulating a research proposal to explore its origins.

The mummy was originally transferred to the museum by USU Eastern in Price after Stephen Flaim donated items from his late father’s collection, Francis Flaim. According to Stephen, his father, a professor of biology with a deep interest in archaeology, acquired the bundle as a gift from a former student.

“It was originally thought to be feline remains, but through CT scans, microscopic analysis and carbon dating, we inferred that it was actually canine remains instead,” Baldauf said.

Through meticulous analysis, Baldauf, research partner Sara Zeller, and mentor Molly Cannon found intricate layers of wrappings with reed or basket-like materials synonymous with a specific time period. To determine its age, three samples of the materials were sent to the University of Georgia’s carbon lab, returning results dating between 724-706 BCE, 400-369 BCE and 382-339 BCE, placing the artifact firmly in ancient Egyptian history. Additional microscopic examinations of the wrappings are helping researchers identify plant and animal fibers used in its preservation.

While the research is ongoing, several theories exist regarding the reasons behind animal mummification. Some animals were bred specifically for mummification, serving as offerings to the gods — particularly Anubis, the deity associated with mummification and the afterlife. Others were buried alongside humans or used as votive offerings in temples. Given its small size and underdeveloped features, the canine remains likely belonged to a fetal animal.

“We think this means it was used as a sacrifice,” Baldauf said. “We’re still trying to figure out how the original owner got ahold of it.”

Baldauf recently presented her findings at a research symposium as part of her honors capstone project. Next steps include mass spectrometry analysis to identify substances in the resin coating of the mummy. The ultimate goal is to gather enough data to create a detailed exhibit in the anthropology museum.