Climate change threatens world's oldest mummies in Chile

The Chinchorro mummies are the oldest known mummified human remains, remnants of the Chinchorro culture. This partially nomadic, coastal hunter-gatherer culture existed between 5450 and 890 BC. It was distinguished by a specific burial ritual that included mummification. The WION service notes that the mummies from Chile are even older than the Egyptian mummies of the pharaohs and their ornate tombs.

According to Bernardo Arriaza, a professor from the University of Tarapaca, ancient Chinchorro people began mummifying their dead around 5000 years ago, while Egyptians started much later, around 2600 BC. The Chilean mummies were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. Nearly 300 of these mummies have been found. Many have survived thanks to favorable environmental conditions associated with the sea and desert proximity.

The burial sites of the Chinchorro mummies were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to their immense archaeological value. However, these efforts may not be sufficient. The main concern is for the mummies that remain undiscovered beneath the sands of the Atacama Desert, which are threatened by climate change.

"If we have an increase in sea surface temperature, for example, along the entire coast of northern Chile, this will increase the atmospheric humidity," said Claudio LaTorre, a paleo-ecologist from the Catholic University of Chile, quoted by WION. In his opinion, this may cause decay in places where it is currently not observed and lead to the irreversible loss of ancient mummies and other valuable artifacts. Archaeologists are concerned about this and strive to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on mummies and other monuments.