Throughout Africa, respect for and worship of deceased family members, known as ancestors, form an important part of religious practices. The spirits of ancestors are honored with figures, masking rituals and offerings. Ancient Egypt, in its reverence for ancestors, used a unique form of mummification.

This coffin was made for a non-royal person of moderate status. It would have rested on its back, horizontally, within the tomb. The human image on the face is so generalized that despite the delicate facial features, which may indicate a woman, there is no certainty of its sex.

The black coating of bitumen, a petroleum-like substance, probably relates to the worship of Osiris, an important god regarded as the ruler of the realm of the dead. The original surface may have been brightly colored and full of detail. For example, necklace strands can be seen on the chest.