J B R JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH 139 J. Biol. Res. 2005 n. I - Vol. LXXX - Rubbettino - Soveria Mannelli KEY WORDS: pollen analysis, ancient plants, mummy conservation, pollen grains, palynology. Abstract Human embalming was practiced widely by the Egyptians using resins extracted from shrubs, trees, or by the use of propolis – also known as bee’s glue. These resins that formed from terpenic derivates, retain a variety of remains: the epidermis of plants, grains of sand, pieces of coal, and grains of pollen.Pollen analyses were made on a mummy belonging to the Egyptian collection of the Museu Nacional: the “Singer of the Temple of Amon”, dated around 750 AD. This is a rare mummy from the Roman period because the limbs were buried separate from the body. We can find only seven mummies buried in this way in the European collections. Our results expand our knowledge about the use of plants which were given as offering or presented at the moment of burial, as indicated by pollen grains through the time. Human embalming was largely used by the Egyptians, either using various resins extracts from shrubs, from trees, and by using “propolis” collected by the bees. Inside such resins – formed from terpenic derivates – various remains are concealed.These remains include epidermis of plants, sand grains, fragments of coal and pollen grains. Pollen analyses were conducted on a mummy belonging to the Egyptian collection from the Museu Nacional, dated approximately 750 AC.This mummy from the Roman period is a very rare find. Our results expand our knowledge about the use of plants which were offered or were present at the moment of burial as represented by pollen grains through the time. Introduction Pollen analysis was largely used in archaeology to reconstruct the paleoenvironment at prehistory (Leroi- Gourhan and Renault-Miskovsky, 1977) and at the time of ancient civilizations (Roubet and Desroches-Noblecourt, 1985). (Chaves and Reinhard, 2003; Chaves and Reinhard (in press) and Chaves and Renault-Miskovsky,1996a.) found plants with a medicinal use. (Dickson, et al. 2000) shows additional data about the use of food among our ancestors. Paleopharmacology is the study of medicinal remains from archaeological sites (Reinhard et al. 1991; Chaves and Reinhard 2003).The theoretical foundation for the field is Ortiz’s (1975) study of Aztec medicinal plants identified in an historical codex.To the Quaternary,the records of pollen research from resins samples are still rare (Vernet and Leroi-Gourhan, 1969; De Franceschi, at al 2000). Human embalming was largely carried out by the Egyptians, either starting from various shrubs resins or trees resins, and, for example, the propolis collected by the bees. Such moist resins are of natural terpenic derivatives, and as such usually contained various debris, like sheets of plants, sand grains, fragments of coals and even pollens grains.The majority of the objects belonging to the Egyptian collection from the Museu Nacional (MN/UFRJ) arrived in Brazil in 1825.The emperor Dom Pedro I was interested in Archaeology. His son, Dom Pedro II also interested in Archeology and Eastern philosophy,traveled to the Egypt two times.This mummy from the Roman period (I century A. C.) belongs to the area of Thebes and is rare due its preparation. Methodology Two resin samples were taken from the external part of the mummy classified with the number 158. It is a female mummy belonging to the collection from the Museu Nacional/UFRJ.Two samples were collected from the inside, at a well preserved area of the sarcophagus, with the intention to investigate the pollen load of the air at this time, the plants used in embalming or other intentional deposits.The samples were taken on the level of the lower limbs, under their feet.The pollen analysis was conducted on a small part (1cm?) of these resinous remains.The method of extraction of pollen was developed with the aim to observe and identify by an optical microscopy.The methodology involves dissolving the resin in acetone.The volume used for the preparation of the samples was 1cm?. Pollen analysis from the resin used for embalming a mummy from the Roman period of I century AC Museu Nacional (MN/UFRJ), Brazil Sérgio A. de Miranda Chaves 1 ;Antonio Brancaglion Jr. 2 1 Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP)- Rio de Janeiro/RJ - Cep 21040 900 2 Museu Nacional - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Rio de Janeiro/RJ L