Mummies are found all over the world and reveal the practices of long-lost peoples.
Humans have long envisioned the continuation of life past death. Ancient Egyptians, for example, are famous for their elaborate funerary rituals and beliefs about the afterlife. But the practice of deliberately preserving bodies extends possibly 3,500 years earlier than the mummies of ancient Egypt. And mummies buried with riches and personal objects are found all over the world.
Ötzi was discovered in a mountain pass 10,530 feet above sea level, far above western Austria's nearby Ötztal Valley. He lived 5,300 years ago, at a time when Europe was first developing complex social hierarchies. His death was violent: Ötzi died after being shot with an arrow and sustained a head injury in his last moments, according to research conducted in 2013.
King TutankhamunPerhaps no mummy is more famous than that of the boy king, King Tut. The young pharaoh died more than 3,000 years ago at the age of 19. The opening of his tomb in 1922 was an international sensation because, unlike many royal tombs, it had not been looted. The teenage pharaoh's mummy was still nestled inside three coffins, including one made of solid gold.
The mummy, which dates back to 168 B.C., is now held by the Hunan Museum in China , along with hundreds of items that were buried with her body. These include sumptuous lacquered dinnerware sets, musical instruments and exquisitely painted silks. From records in the tomb, archaeologists know that Xin Zhui was the wife of the Marquis of Dai, Li Cang.
The Chinchorro people who made these mummies lived in the Atacama Desert and left no written records, so the lovingly preserved dead offer a rare window into their beliefs and culture. Notably, according to Archaeology, the Chinchorro mummified everyone regardless of rank — even stillborn children.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ancient Fossil Fragment Revealed as The Only Vulture Ever Discovered in AustraliaFor more than 100 years, paleontologists have thought that a fossil discovered in South Australia was a powerful grave eagle (Taphaetus lacertosus). Now, new research has revealed its true taxonomy: it's a vulture, and it's the first one discovered i
Read more »
Secret docs reveal FBI investigated decision to give cash to Wuhan lab linked to COVID-19Newly released government records reveal the FBI investigated a decision by the National Institutes of Health to issue a grant that was tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Read more »
How Nelson Mandela fought apartheid—and why his work is not completeFormer South African president and civil rights advocate Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to fighting for equality. His accomplishments are now celebrated each year on July 18, MandelaDay
Read more »
4,000 beagles to be released from Virginia breeding, research facility: DOJThe Justice Department on Monday announced they've secured the release of over 4,000 beagles.
Read more »
Gas station reveals the secret to keeping prices lowABC 10 Anchor Aaron Dickens speaks with a gas station manager in National City. He says the station does not make a lot of money on gas. But he is still able to keep the prices low and be profitable.
Read more »
Lost city, a real-life 'Helm's Deep,' possibly discovered in IraqThe ancient stronghold is believed to be part of the lost city of Natounia.
Read more »