The Wonder World of Chinchoro Mummy, a World Heritage Site

- Future Science-KR Chowdhury

An online meeting of the World Heritage Committee was held in China, a host country by UNESCO. This year, Dholavira, an archeological site in Kutch, India, which is associated with the Harappan culture, and the Rudreshwar Temple in Telangana have been included.

In addition, two places associated with the world of science have also been included in the World Heritage List. The oldest observatory in the United States, known as the Chankylo Archeostronomical Complex (Peru). It has been included. Also included is a village called Arica, near the border between Peru and Chile.

The world's oldest mummies have been found in three different places near this village. The common man believes that mummies have been found only in Egypt. Which is the oldest mummy in the world. The fact is something different. The world's oldest chinchilla mummies have been found in the vicinity of a village called Arica.

Unique 'mummification' process

According to the study of scientists, the carcasses were turned into chinchilla mummies through three different processes. Of these, two methods i.e. 'Black Mummy' and 'Red Mummy' technique are considered as the main ones. Humidity was very low here as the Chinchoro civilization was located in the desert. In addition, the desert area caused more heat. In the early period, that is, five to three thousand years ago, the 'black mummy' technique was used. In this technique, arms, legs and head were separated from the body of the corpse. The Chinchoro people used to dry the mutilated body with heat. When the skull was dry, it was filled with material and tied together.

The body was then prepared for the mummy by placing the skeleton on the bones of the arms and legs, as well as the skull over the torso. In the same way that children make clay dolls, long plant twigs etc. were arranged on the skeleton and the mummy of the corpse was made with clay on it. The facial features of the deceased human being were raised with clay on the face. The mummy was adorned with feathers and other natural materials.

"The method of preparing the mummy of the Chinchoro people was very modern at that time," says Areza, director of the Chinchoro Center at Tarapaka University in Arika. Mummies were made by special experts. Due to which, even after 2000 years, 'Chinchoro Mummy' is well preserved. The shape and drawing given to the human body while preparing the mummy shows the creativity of the Chinchoro people. '

The 'chinchilla civilization' developed in South America

The present continent of South America where the border of southern Chile and northern Peru meet. There was a development of chinchilla civilization in the coastal area. This ancient civilization, even two thousand years before Egypt, acquired the art of turning a corpse into a mummy. However, the 'mummification' process of preserving their bodies was somewhat different than the Egyptian mummification process. The mummy preserved by chinchilla culture is known to the world as the ‘chinchilla mummy’. The region is home to the Andes Mountains. Which is why the 'Chinchoro Mummy' is known as one of the wonders of Andes Archeology.

Seven thousand years ago today, the Chinchoro civilization developed near the coast of the Atacama Desert near northern Chile. The Chinchoro community lived a mostly nomadic hunting life. The Chinchoro people earned their livelihood by fishing in the sea. An analysis of the chinchilla mummy's bones reveals that "their main food was marine life."

The first discovery of the chinchilla mummy was made in 1918 by the German archaeologist Max Uhl. The best-preserved, chinchilla mummy, however, was discovered not by archaeologists but by the local Erica Water Company, which accidentally laid the pipeline. At the foot of a mountain called El-Morro, excavations were carried out to lay a water pipeline, and very well-preserved chinchilla mummies were found. So far, more than 200 chinchilla mummies have been preserved in various museums. The peculiarity of Egyptian mummies was that, mostly people belonging to the royal family, the corpses of kings, emperors, princes, princesses, queens, empresses were turned into mummies.

While in chinchilla culture, mummies of the common man and especially children were also prepared. What was the purpose of this member society behind making chinchilla mummies? It is not yet known. Nor is it possible for a historian, expert or scientist to shed light on his beliefs about life after death.

'Red Mummy' technique!

From two and a half thousand to two thousand years BC, the red mummy technique was used to make chinchoro mummies. Which differs from the ‘black mummy’ technique. The corpses were cut vertically and horizontally with a sharp weapon near the shoulders and chest. Various internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, etc., were then removed from it. The inside of the body was then left to dry. The head was separated from the torso and the brain was removed.

This technique of mummification is somewhat similar to the 'black mummy' technique. But the peculiarity of red mummification was that, after turning the corpse into a mummy, the mummy was prepared in such a way that it retains the characteristics of the human body better. The CV was taken by filling the cavity part of the torso with clay etc. A black clay hat was made over the head. In which the hair of the head removed from the body of the corpse was used to make a wig. The face and body were painted red.

The question here is why an organization like UNESCO finds 'Chinchoro Mummy' so special? ‘Chachoro Mummy’ depicts the spiritual and to some extent dhamma beliefs and rituals of the contemporary people. Experts have not yet been able to answer why these people kept their loved one as a mummy after his death. Mummies of almost every class of person were prepared, regardless of age or race. 'Mummy' was a prominent method of cremation.

The fact that UNESCO felt it was right to preserve the Chinchoro cultural heritage is truly commendable. One of the characteristics of the Chinchoro people is also worth considering. In addition to the Chinchoro community, male, child, young or old, they also prepared mummies for undeveloped fetuses or premature babies.

Remains of chinchilla mummies becoming extinct due to climate change

A distinctive feature of the Chinchoro civilization has also been found. Instead of digging a deep pit to bury the corpse, these people were digging as much pit as they could bury on the surface. The corpse was kept in such a way that it was mentally exposed to the air. Over time the sea level rose and more Chinchoro people were able to use the sea resources. As the groups of people grew, so did the various understandings and ideas between them, which led to the formation of a complex Chinchoro culture. Early civilization gave the world the gift of a mummy for the first time.

However, 5,000 years later, the 'Chinchoro Mummy' is failing to survive over time. The geographical area of ​​Chile and Peru where the Chinchoro people made their living thousands of years ago. The humidity in the area is now rising. With the increase in humidity over the last ten years, bacteria have begun to grow in the carcass. Ralph Mitchell, a professor of applied biology at Harvard University, said: "The ecological mummies in the museum are being eaten by bacteria. The mummy's skin is rapidly turning black.

Where it has never rained in the last 200 years, it is now raining. A previous earthquake in the region had a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale. Which also damaged the museum. Even surviving specimens of the Chinchoro culture, considered extinct due to climate change, are losing their existence under the influence of climate change.