Mysterious Mummies

Mummification refers to a process of preserving the decomposing dead. Artificial mummification denotes human made preservative actions, while natural mummification refers to ecologically preservative processes. Removing organs helps in this process of decreasing decomposition. The stuffing of the bodies with materials then worked to restore the shape of the body (Arriaza 1995a). The Chinchorro have multiple forms of mummification including black red, bandage, doll, mud-coated, and natural. The elaborate rituals were likely done by specialists who had apprenticed in learning the skills of mummification (Sepúlveda et al. 2014). Anatomical knowledge gained from fishing would have also aided the development of mummification. The collection of plants and soils for the process make it likely that this form of caring for the dead took weeks (Arriaza 1995a).

 

All in all, the Chinchorro process of mummification allows us a better view of their past.