This book explores the traditions that have surrounded death through the ages, with particular emphasis on the famous mummies and tombs of Ancient Egypt. You will also find out about Anglo-Saxon hoards, the Aztecs' smiling god of the Underworld, the terracotta soldiers guarding the first Chinese emperor, and the curses that are said to have befallen archaeologists who opened up sacred tombs. Discover how scientists piece together the lives of peoples of the past, and how some bodies have been preserved purely by chance - by natural forces.