Despite civil unrest and the reinstated division between Upper and Lower Egypt, new techniques for mummification flourished at this time. No longer were limbs individually wrapped, but the entire body was wrapped as a whole, and then covered with several layers of shrouds. Interest waned in shaping the body using resin and various filling materials.

The classic mummy mask was developed during this period. It was made of cartonnage, or layers of plastered linen, that had been shaped to represent the face of the deceased, then painted in blue and gold.