Final answer:
Mummification is an ancient Egyptian practice of preserving the body for the afterlife, while petrification is a geological process that transforms organic material into fossils.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mummification
Mummification was an ancient Egyptian practice that involved preserving the body for the afterlife. The process included removing internal organs, drying the body with salt, treating it with oils and resins, and wrapping it in linen strips. The organs were placed in canopic jars, which were decorated with different symbols representing gods.
Petrification
Petrification is a process where porous tissue, such as bone or wood, is transformed into a more durable material through the permeation of minerals dissolved in water. This results in denser fossils with the original material sometimes being replaced or recrystallized.
While both mummification and petrification involve preserving a body or object, the processes and purposes are different. Mummification was practiced for religious and cultural reasons, specifically for the belief in an afterlife in ancient Egypt. Petrification, on the other hand, occurs naturally over time and is a geological process that transforms organic material into fossils.