Natural Mummies Hold Memories of Life and Land
All around the world, extreme conditions have kept ancient human remains shockingly well preserved.
The harsh, windswept peaks of the Andes present challenging conditions for life. The mountainous terrain receives limited water, as much of the region's precipitation is locked up as ice. High winds exert physical pressure, making movement difficult. The atmosphere at these elevations has lower oxygen levels, and the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are more intense due to the thinner air.
Despite these adverse conditions, the Andes create an environment where biological decomposition is slowed, and geological processes prevail. Mummification, the process of preserving biological remains, can occur naturally due to extreme physical conditions, such as aridity, freezing temperatures, or exposure to preservatives. Anthropogenic mummies, like those from ancient Egypt, are well-known, but natural mummies, also called spontaneous mummies, preserve human stories unintentionally.
The Children of Llullaillaco are a prime example of natural mummies in the Andes. Discovered in 1999 in shallow graves near the summit of a dormant stratovolcano shared by Argentina and Chile, these Incan children (aged 5 to 13) were ritually sacrificed in the late 1400s. However, their bodies were preserved through a combination of cold temperatures, dry conditions, volcanic ash, and the lack of significant dehydration due to the frozen blood in their hearts.
Llullaillaco's proximity to the Atacama Desert, one of Earth's driest regions, further contributed to its preservation.
When the Children of Llullaillaco were found, indigenous communities initially objected to the extraction and display of the remains. Local archaeologists and anthropologists were not involved in the discovery, and the Indigenous Colla communities were not consulted. A lawsuit was filed by a Colla community, alleging the violation of their rights.
Despite the controversy, the remains are now on display at Argentina’s Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (MAAM). The museum has built relationships with various Indigenous communities in Argentina to ensure they are handled respectfully. This collaboration includes sharing music, languages, stories, ceremonies, and traditional knowledge, as well as traditional art forms like weaving, pottery, and singing.
Written by urgent.news from Eos's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
