‘Real mummy’s curse’: health warning over growing trade in mummified human remains
Academic paper says often illicit trade exposes enthusiasts – and postal workers handling items – to serious risks A growing global trade in mummified human remains has been described by academics as “a real mummy’s curse” that poses a serious health risk to its enthusiasts and the postal services they use. Research into the secretive buying and selling of centuries-old human body parts including…
A recent academic study has warned of the "real mummy's curse" posed by the growing global trade in mummified human remains. These ancient body parts, including hands, feet and heads, are often illicitly bought and sold online through social media, e-commerce sites and auction houses. The research, published in the International Journal of Cultural Property, highlights the risks to enthusiasts and postal workers who handle these items.
The study examined 128 online posts and found that over half of the sample consisted of heads in varying states of preservation. Mummification processes typically involve toxic materials like arsenic, mercury, and lead, which can release dormant microorganisms when the remains are moved or disturbed. Inhalation of spores like aspergillus can lead to severe illness, as seen in the 1970s death of 10 conservation scientists who opened the tomb of King Casimir IV of Kraków.
The authors warn that those involved in the trade are largely unaware of the health risks, and postal workers and warehouse personnel are also at risk of exposure to these harmful substances.
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