Buzz
Within Roopkund Lake, various human skeletal remains with different origins have been identified, prompting more questions than a solution.
The Enigma of Roopkund Lake: Hundreds of Skeletons Hidden in the Himalayas
Perched at an altitude of over 5,029 meters above sea level, Roopkund Lake conceals 800 sets of skeletons beneath layers of ice, hence earning the moniker “Skeleton Lake.” This locale lies alongside the pilgrimage route of locals attending the famed Nanda Devi Raj Jat festival in Uttarakhand, India.
The lake has become a legendary tale among the locals. Legend has it that a king and queen along with their retinue journeyed to the shrine of the mountain goddess Nanda Devi. However, their celebratory actions offended the goddess and incurred her wrath from the Nanda Devi peak.
By the late 19th century, there were several reports of skeletal remains at Roopkund Lake, but it wasn’t until 1942, during World War II, that Indian forest officials first “discovered” this phenomenon. The bones were scattered everywhere, with none found intact. Officials of the time believed that the hundreds of skeletons belonged to an unfortunate army or a caravan that perished due to a storm.
Some experts suggest this body of water has become a mass grave for victims of ancient catastrophes such as landslides, hailstorms, massacres, diseases, or collective suicides.
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists analyzed the genetic structure of 38 sets of skeletons. The results indicate they are unrelated, even with different dietary regimes.
Of these, 23 individuals have origins from South Asia – specifically present-day India, perishing in one or more events between the 7th and 10th centuries. The other 14 victims died over 1,000 years ago, most likely within the same timeframe. These individuals are linked to ancestors from the Mediterranean region, namely present-day Greece. Furthermore, the remains of another victim who died at the same time as the 14 individuals have origins from Southeast Asia.
These data seem to raise more questions than answers for the mystery of Skeleton Lake. “The origin of these skeletons remains a mystery, as they are not systematically studied by anthropology or archaeology, and this body of water is frequently affected by natural events, such as rockslides. Additionally, pilgrims and mountaineers often visit here, disturbing the skeletons or taking away many artifacts,” the study writes.
Éadaoin Harney, a member of the research team from Harvard University, said: “We were surprised by the genetic patterns of the skeletons at Roopkund. Individuals with ancestors from the eastern Mediterranean region indicate that Roopkund Lake is not only a place of local curiosity but also attracts guests from around the globe.”
According to Bảo Ngọc/ Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourSeptember 4, 2019
