Egypt was not the only ancient culture that preserved its dead. As this fascinating study shows, communities across the Old and New Worlds went to often extraordinary lengths to preserve their loved ones, enemies or sacrificial victims. Other bodies, such as the Ice Man or some bog victims, were mummified by chance. All provide an invaluable glimpse into the lives and beliefs of ancient societies, many of which have left little other evidence. Reid, an anthropologist and film maker, examines bodies in Asia, Siberia, North-West Europe, the Canary Islands, Egypt, Chile, Peru and the Andes, as well as the circumstances surrounding their deaths.