Chinchorro Mummies
Chinchorro Mummies refer to the remarkably preserved remains of the Chinchorro people, who inhabited the Atacama Desert along the South American coastline from approximately 8000 BCE to 500 BCE. Recognized as the oldest known examples of intentionally mummified human remains, these mummies offer profound insights into early Andean culture and mortuary practices. The mummification process evolved over time, utilizing methods involving ash paste, ochre, and mud, and it was accessible to all social classes, not just the elite. The Chinchorro people practiced complex techniques to preserve bodies, including organ removal and reconstruction with materials like reeds and clay. These mummies played a significant role in their society, as they were revered during annual celebrations, showcasing a deep respect for ancestors. The lifelike appearance of the mummies, often adorned with ceremonial headdresses and wigs, reflects the cultural importance of the deceased. Overall, the Chinchorro Mummies serve as a testament to a rich cultural heritage and the sophisticated understanding of mortuary practices in prehistoric South America.
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Chinchorro Mummies
Related civilization: South and central Andes.
Date: 8000-500 b.c.e.
Locale: Atacama Desert, south and central Andes
Chinchorro Mummies
The Chinchorro inhabited the Atacama Desert, four hundred miles of South American coastline stretching from Ilo in the southern part of Peru to Antofagasta in northern Chile. The Chinchorro people lived in their extended locale from as early as about 8000 b.c.e. to 500 b.c.e. They lived at the mouths of rivers and subsisted primarily on fishing. Modern peoples would probably know little, if anything, about them were it not for the fame of their well-preserved ancestors, whom they worshiped. During certain yearly celebrations, high-ranking mummies would be brought out in full formal dress to take part in the festivities and visit with family and friends.
The earliest mummy found has been dated to circa 5050 b.c.e. It was discovered in the Camarones Valley, 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Arica, Chile. The art of mummification went through three distinct phases—ash paste, ochre, and mud coverings—over thousands of years, finally disappearing around the first century b.c.e. It was available to all members of society rather than limited to the privileged. The Chinchorro mummies are the oldest known examples of human remains that have been carefully and intentionally mummified. Hundreds of human remains, mummified and otherwise, have been unearthed, opening a wide window on the Andean past.
Mummification developed into a high mortuary art form by 7000 b.c.e. Corpses would be emptied of organs and disassembled. They would be carefully rebuilt using reeds, sticks, clay, bone, and seal skin and preserved by coating the dried skin with a rich black manganese ash paste; later, intense red ochre and clay were used. The bodies may have been dried using hot sand or coals, as evidenced by the scorching of some. The face, body organs and parts, internal and external—including genitalia—were all made of clay, as were elaborate ceremonial helmets and headdresses that were put on top of human-hair wigs up to 24 inches (61 centimeters) long. Their eyes and mouths were often open, suggesting a lifelike appearance. It was believed that the souls of the ancestors would come to inhabit such a mummy if properly cared for and displayed. After many years, or even generations of use, groups of several mummies would be buried together with personal items, mostly pertaining to fishing.
Bibliography
Arriaza, B. Beyond Death: The Chinchorro Mummies of Ancient Chile. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995.
Liitschwager, D., S. Middleton, and H. Pringle. “The Sickness of Mummies.” Discover Magazine, December 1, 1998.
Wise, Karen. “La ocupacion Chinchorro en villa del mar, Ilo, Peru.” Faceta Arqueologica Andina 24 (1995): 135-149.