Perhaps early interest in and experimentation with embalming was sparked by the discovery of bodies that had been buried in desert sand and were naturally preserved.
इतिहासकार इस बात से सहमत हैं कि शवलेपन मिस्र में शुरू हुआ, मगर यह दस्तूर प्राचीन समय में अश्‍शूरियों, फारसियों, और स्कूतियों में भी मशहूर था ।