A joint Egyptian-German mission has discovered a specialized botanical library belonging to a high-ranking New Kingdom embalmer. Located in the shadow of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the tomb contains hundreds of dried plant specimens stored in alabaster jars, alongside a cache of remarkably well-preserved papyri that detail the chemical compositions of various resins and oils used in the mummification of the elite.
The texts provide unprecedented insight into the trade networks of the 18th Dynasty, listing imported substances from as far as the Horn of Africa and the Levant. Most notably, the library includes a 'Pharma-Necropolis' ledger, which describes the use of specific antimicrobial herbs to prevent the decay of internal organs, reflecting a level of biological knowledge previously underestimated by historians.