Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
Mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
- Made:
- 800-1400 in Peru
Mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
This preserved mummy is from the north coast of Peru. He was a member of the Chimu culture, which flourished from around 1100 CE until it was absorbed into the Inca civilisation in the late 1400s.
On burial, the body would have been seated in an upright position, with the knees at the face. It was often then wrapped in layers of fabric and sometimes a false head would be attached to the bundle – any such wrappings are absent in this example. The body was then buried with personal possessions, ritual objects and food offerings, revealing a strong belief in a continuing existence after death.
Details
- Category:
- Ethnography and Folk Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A31655
- type:
- human remains and mummified body
- credit:
- Wellcome Trust
Parts
Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
One mummy bag associated with mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
- Object Number:
- A31655/2
- type:
- human remains and mummified body
Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
A mummy bag and skull fragments associated with mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
- Object Number:
- A31655/3
- type:
- human remains
Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
Mummy cloth associated with mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
- Object Number:
- A31655/4
- type:
- human remains
Mummified male body, Peru, 800-1400
Mummy cloth associated with mummified male body, South American, 800-1400
- Object Number:
- A31655/5
- type:
- human remains
