ARICA, CHILE – There are more than a 100 specimens at the Universidad de Tarapaca in Arica Chile. They are said to be degrading at a very high rate. Marcela Sepulveda who is an archaeologist explains that the appearance of dark and bright spots on them is a real reflection of change in their tissues.
Regardless of age or status, Chinchorro have been known to accord everyone within their community the sacred rite of mummification to their dead. This is unlike the Egyptians who considered mummification to be for kings and other dignified citizens.
Mummies were discovered in 1917 in the Atacama Desert according to a mummies expert Bernardo Arriaza. With time, many more have been unearthed and it is said that there are still many others in the ground to be uncovered.
On the other hand those that are still being discovered have been found to be damaged after excavation. Marcela says that the highly suspected reason for the degradation is the changing climate. It is said that Arica is the driest place on earth. However its locals claim there is a significant change with an increase in precipitation and humidity being noted. As such, the change on degradation effect is more on the external mummies that those that are indoors
Of late and according to Christopher Burt, a weather historian, Arica is a place that is becoming wetter than usual. This is unlike the known famous report of dryness.
However, the change of climate cannot be inclined on global climate change. And at this point a Harvard microbiologist has teamed up with other Chilean researchers to try and find out what is causing the ailment in the mummies.
The unfolding’s on these Chinchorro mummies is an explanation enough of how cultural artifacts and other heritage sites are irreplaceable after damage whether caused by a human being or otherwise. This has caused a lot of concern at the UNESCO world Heritage Centre who have confirmed that they being more attentive on this particular area.