Lost Photos Suggest Europeans Were Mummifying Their Dead Far Earlier Than We Thought

Evidence may have been found for the oldest practice of mummification.

The Sado Valley in Portugal is believed to have been where the remains were deliberately treated for mummification 8,000 years ago. This is the first evidence of mummification in Europe.

It may be the oldest in the world. The earliest evidence for deliberate mummification was dated to 7,000 years ago.

5,600 years ago, in Egypt, the earliest evidence of deliberate mummification was found.

A team of researchers led by Rita Peyroteo-Stjerna of the University of Uppsala wrote that their study combines archaeothanatological analysis with insights from experimental taphonomic research.

We present what we believe to be evidence for intentional mummification and reflect on attitudes to the body and the handling of the dead, including their transport to significant places in the landscape.

Evidence for mummification is hard to come by, but archaeologists believe that it was not uncommon in prehistoric times. Soft tissue degrades over time, no matter how well mummified it is. The Chinchorro mummies are decomposing.

The Sado Valley has very little soft tissue. The burials had been considered straightforward. The National Museum of Archaeology in Portugal took the remains, along with sketches and poor quality photographs, which limited the study of the site.

Three rolls of film were recovered from the personal effects of the archaeologist, who died recently. Peyroteo-Stjerna and her team were able to connect the film rolls to the excavations because Farinha dosSantos did some work for the museum.

The research team was able to conduct a more in-depth analysis of ancient funerary practices because of the images captured therein.

Archeologists were able to reconstruct how the remains had been handled with the help of images of the remains in situ.

The forensic anthropology research facility at Texas State University had human decomposition experiments conducted by a forensic anthropologist.

The team was able to better understand how corpses are decomposing when they have been mummified and when they have not.

The results of the experiments could be compared to images of the Sado Valley remains, and even without soft tissue, the remains of one individual showed signs of being mummified. Hyperflexed limbs, an absence of disarticulation, and rapid debris surround the bones.

The decomposing bodies disarticulate at weak joints quickly, so mummification preserves the strength of the joints. The bones would have been in place if the space around them was filled with soil.

The body must have been buried in a hyperflexed position in order for it to be present in a burial with preserved labile joint connections.

The researchers believe that the results suggest that deliberate mummification may have been more widespread around the world than previously thought.

By allowing for the possibility of mummification, we could gain more evidence for it, and expand our understanding of how our ancestors cared for their dead.

The European Journal of Archaeology has published the research.