7 Mummy Discoveries That Scared Archaelogists
Mummies and their fascinations are often associated with ancient Egypt and the pyramids however mummifying techniques are famous all around the world! While it is believed that mummification started with the Chinchorron culture of South America in southern Peru, the oldest mummies found do lie Egypt. There is yet a lot to be discovered from ancient history, which can be extremely exciting and informative. However, through the journeys of archaeologists, they will undoubtedly experience some scary moments that will allow for new investigative pursuits!
Archaeologists are bound to discover more with the evolution of science and technology, offering an in-depth look into the logic, reasoning, and culture behind the ancient craft and ritual.
Llullaillaco Child Mummies - Argentina
Two girls and a 6-year-old boy were found on the summit of the Argentinian volcano Llullaillaco. The three mummies were found at the Llullaillaco burial site by Johan Reinhard. He and his team of researchers set out into the high Andes to search for Inca ritual sacrifice sites in 1999. Research suggests that the mummies are over 500 years old and are the remnants of child-sacrificing rituals, as one of the girl mummies was found to be struck by lightning. This is not the first discovery of mummies in the area, but is notably one of the best-preserved mummies in Llullillaco.
The Mummies of Palermo Catacombs - Italy
One of the most bizarre historic sites and tourist attractions in Sicily, Italy, is of thousands of well-dressed mummies that date back to the 1600s that were discovered beneath a monastery. When the place of worship ran out of graves for burials, they started offering mummifying options at a premium for those who could afford it. Locals long had a strong connection with the dead and believed that mummifying their deceased would allow them to be part of prayers and rituals. What shocked the archeologists in this finding was that they were all still clothed, and there were over 8000 corpses, with over 1500 of them having been mummified.
The Mummies of Qilakitsoq - Greenland
Found in the Uummannaq area of Greenland, the aptly named “Greenland Mummies,” are the best-preserved human remains ever found in North America. These mummies were unearthed at the abandoned settlement of Qilakitsoq, consisting of six women and two children, dating back to around 1475 A.D. These mummies are a particularly unique discovery because they were not chemically-preserved corpses but instead iced away for preservation naturally. Research suggests these mummies may have encountered an accident or experienced extreme weather conditions. What fascinated archaeologists is their natural freezing techniques and also caused them to wonder why the two graves contained women and children but no men?
The animal cemetery of Abydos - Egypt
There are so many reasons why the ancient Egyptians mummified animals; some say it is to find them in the afterlife, and others believe that the mummified body is a storage place for the soul. The Sacred City of Abydos features many remnants of the ancient empire, but this one was a shock to discover due to the large array of animals in the cemetery. The cemetery was uncovered at the temple of Ramses II and featured everything from thousands of ram heads to wild goats, cows, and mongooses. This unusual discovery is one of the most recent mummy uncoverings in Abydos. Still, the cemetery is considered one of the oldest animal cemeteries in the area, dating almost 4000 years back.
The 250 mummies of Bubasteion - Egypt
Another recent mummy discovery is the Bubasteion mummies. Here, researchers unlocked a tomb of over 250 high-profile mummies dating back to over 2500 years ago. The tomb is a combination of men, women, and children and is believed to belong to a priest named Wahtye. The discovery stands out to researchers compared to some before as they found informative materials along with the mummies, such as a book called “The Book of Death,” along with exceptionally well-preserved corpses in fascinating clay and wood coffins. Along with the various ages and genders found in the tomb are two mummies seated with golden faces, known as the protectors of the coffins.
The Lady of Dai Mummy - China
One of the best-preserved mummies, along with the Frozen Greenland mummies, is the Lady of Dai mummy, surprisingly found in Mawangdui near Changsha, China. Buried deep within a hillside in south-central China, her perfectly-preserved tomb was discovered in 1972 by workers digging an air raid shelter. The grave she was discovered in explained her story as a simplistic highly-feminine life. Despite being the almost perfect and best-preserved mummy, The Lady of Dai is predicted to be over 2000 years old upon discovery and had been mummified at roughly 50 years old.
Terrified Mummies - Peru
One of the scariest mummy discoveries to this day, the Terrified Mummies of Peru, are claimed to be over 700 years old, discovered in the coastal region of Lambaywque. What shocked researchers and archaeologists was the look on the mummies' faces and their defensive body position which had their arms covering their faces. This discovery provided some very valuable insights into burial and mummification practices. Still, archaeologists have yet to know what the mummies were afraid of and why some had their hands bound with ropes. The Terrified Mummies were found under a seven-tiered staircase, 25 miles from Peru’s capital, Lima and are some of the spookiest!
Conclusion
Finally, mummies are being found worldwide, with the main regions being in Asia and some parts of Africa, however there is always more to be discovered and learned from these ancient practices! How people from different areas of the world all adopted the same technology despite the lack of communication and travel is a question that has been asked for years. Archaeologists continue to get closer to the full picture, with each of their mummification finds revealing more and more of what led people to adopt various mummifying techniques around the world.
