About 7000 years ago, the Chinchorros, a culture of fishermen, began to artificially
mummify their dead. The Chinchorro tradition performed mummification on all members of their society. A special
relationship between life and death led them to spend several days preparing
the bodies of men, women, children and unborn to assure permanence in the
community, beyond death.
The work involved cutting the head skull with rustic
utensils, cleaning of organs and preparing clay masks. It is especially
interesting to observe the treatment provided to children whose fragile bones were
strengthened by twigs and vegetable fiber.
But even more impressive is
the mummification of humans not yet born. Tiny human embryos, who have not formed their limbs but
were valued as a member of the community, were treated delicately.
Through time, they developed various forms of mummification. The two most common techniques used were the Black mummies (5000 – 3000 BC) and the Red mummies
technique (2500 – 2000 BC). Other techniques were using dressing materials and mud-coat. More here.
(Source: Plaques at Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico de San Miguel de Azapa)
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