What is a mummy anyway? Any dead body that has been preserved is a mummy. After death, the flesh on most bodies rots and falls off. These bodies become skeletons-just a bunch of bones. But a dead body that has been preserved keeps its skin and flesh. This is what we call a mummy. Somestimes mummies are made on purpose: People use special methods to treat the body. ....What is a mummy anyway? Any dead body that has been preserved is a mummy. After death, the flesh on most bodies rots and falls off. These bodies become skeletons-just a bunch of bones. But a dead body that has been preserved keeps its skin and flesh. This is what we call a mummy. Somestimes mummies are made on purpose: People use special methods to treat the body. ....