The cemetery called HK43 at Hierakonpolis belonged to the non-elite (or workers) segment of the predynastic population. HK43 holds over 500 individuals of Naqada IIB-IIC date (roughly 3650-3500 BC).
Mummy HK43 Burial 16 was an older woman (c. 30+ years) whose long hair was extremely well preserved beneath the 10cm thick linen pads. It seems as if the entire head was padded given the large clumps of padding adhering to her hair. When this padding was removed, there was more artificial going on than just wrapping. Her graying locks had been dyed, as analysis has shown, with henna (Lawsonia inermis). Carefully knotted in to help fill out those graying and thinning locks were hair extensions, locks of her own hair, arranged to form what must have been a quite elaborate hair style, with a lot of lift in the center. It is unknown whether this was done in life or was a post mortem treatment.
