Chinchorro Mummies: Ancient Treasures Facing Modern Threats
The Oldest Mummies in the World
Buried in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile nearly 7,000 years ago, the Chinchorro mummies are the oldest known evidence of artificial mummification. These preserved bodies of the Chinchorro people, the first known culture to mummify their dead, have become one with the terrain, often lurking beneath new developments and disrupting construction projects.
A Unique Mummification Process
What sets the Chinchorro mummies apart is their social status: everyone was mummified, regardless of wealth or family placement. The Chinchorros did not bury their dead but rather took their mummified bodies with them when they moved, as if the dead were accompanying them.
For a time, the Chinchorro mummifying strategy involved the “black mummy” tactic, where the corpse was left with no skin or internal organs, and only the skeleton remained. These bones were then covered in elaborate confections of reeds, sea lion skins, clay, alpaca wool, and wigs of human hair.
An Artistic Expression
For the Chinchorro, these mummified bodies were not merely preserved remains but works of art. They left behind no pottery or other forms of daily creative tools, instead expressing their emotions and transforming their dead into genuine works of pre-Hispanic art.
A Poisoning Environment
The Atacama Desert, where the Chinchorro people lived, was a poisoning environment due to the high concentration of natural arsenic in the soil and the manganese paint used to decorate the mummies. This may have contributed to the unusually high death rate among the Chinchorro.
Modern Threats
Despite their advanced age and their status as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Chinchorro mummies now face new threats. Climate change and the lack of a unified exhibition space have taken their toll. However, efforts are underway to create a dedicated Chinchorro museum and archaeological park in the area.
A Legacy for the Living
For those who still live among the mummies in Arica, living among the dead is not so much scary as it is a part of their everyday life. They embrace the history that surrounds them and feel it is part of their legacy.
“I feel that we are the continuation of the Chinchorros,” says Arica resident Alfredo Guerrero. “… I am not going to leave this place. I will always remain, so I will always be visiting them.”
The Chinchorro mummies continue to captivate and intrigue, reminding us of the ingenuity and resilience of ancient civilizations and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage for generations to come.
