Calls to Rebury a Siberian Mummy Unearth Decades of Distorted History
Shamans claim a Pandora’s box of disaster and conflict was opened when the remains of the “Altai Princess” were found three decades ago.
The Altai Princess, a 5th-century BC mummy discovered on the Ukok Plateau in 1993, has reignited calls for her reburial amid decades of distorted history. The indigenous Altai people claim her return would honor their heritage, while skeptics argue the remains were sensationalized to boost Russian archaeology's prestige. Dr. Maria Ochir-Goryaeva, an archaeologist from the republic of Kalmykia, suggests that the mummy's "princess" label and myths were fabricated by the original discoverers.
Ochir-Goryaeva points out that the focus on frozen graves can create an impression of wealth that may not reflect the reality of the people's living conditions. The mummy was initially flown to Novosibirsk for preservation but returned to Altai in 2012 after the local museum's renovation. Yet, mistrust persists, and recent protests over land rights suggest the controversy around the Altai Princess may only intensify.
Written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
