Buzz
Mummies are not solely from Egypt. Occasionally, they emerge in places like New York, carrying with them an array of peculiar findings for archaeologists to explore.
In other parts of the world, burial sites offer rare insights into the anxieties of communities scarred by disasters or correct long-standing historical errors. Some recent tombs have even revealed objects never before observed by experts, and one skull could potentially help settle a debate about a continent's history.
10. The Majestic Woman
In 2014, two burials were uncovered in China, but the discovery didn’t make its way into English media until 2018. Found at Tieguai Village, one tomb had been nearly emptied by tomb robbers, while the other remained intact.
Inside, the remarkably preserved skeleton of a high-ranking woman was found. Astonishingly, she passed away 900 years ago, and her coffin had been exposed to water. Despite the passage of time and the harsh conditions, her nails and hair were still intact. In fact, her hair was even decorated with precious metal pins.
The coffin was encased in a second coffin, but it was the interior’s surface that provided clues to her life. Inscriptions referred to her as the “Grand Lady” from “Ankang Commandery.” While her exact name couldn’t be fully deciphered, images depicted her in various outfits.
The skeleton reflected a similar taste for elegance, adorned with silver bracelets, a pendant, and embroidered shoes. Inside the coffin, there were also coins and food. However, the most captivating item among the grave goods was a miniature house. Crafted from wood, it featured rooms and a courtyard, all beautifully furnished.
9. Mummy of the Queens
In 2011, a construction team in New York City uncovered a body in Queens. The remains were identified as those of an African American woman, and initially, authorities believed she might have been a recent murder victim.
However, a forensic archaeologist spotted metal fragments and soon realized this wasn’t a crime scene. The iron pieces surrounding the body were remnants of a costly coffin. Popular in the mid-1800s, iron coffins were airtight, which slowed down the decomposition process. This accounted for the body’s unusually well-preserved state.
The period of time also clarified the woman’s “unusual” attire—a nightgown, cap, and knee-high socks. Her nearly intact skin revealed distinct scars, which likely pointed to smallpox as the cause of death.
The site had once been a church and cemetery used by an African-American community. Census data indicated that she was 26-year-old Martha Peterson. The most poignant discovery was how carefully the woman had been prepared. Even though she had died from a highly contagious disease, someone had taken the time to wash and dress her, and even styled her hair.
The mystery remains as to how an average person ended up in one of these costly, elaborate coffins. It might have been to stop the spread of smallpox, given that the casket was sealed tight. Nevertheless, researchers haven’t ruled out other, potentially more enigmatic reasons for her peculiar burial.
8. Ancient Pet Care
A moving story emerged in 2018 when researchers revisited ancient dog bones. Originally discovered in 1914, the dog had been buried alongside a man and woman, all of whom lived approximately 14,000 years ago in what is now western Germany.
The updated study revealed that the dog remains came from two separate animals, not just one as previously assumed. The younger of the two was a puppy that passed away at seven months old after battling a long series of severe illnesses. Canine distemper continues to kill many dogs today, and this ancient pet lived much longer than expected.
This indicates that ancient humans shared a strong connection with the puppy—feeding it and tending to symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, pneumonia, and even seizures. This bond could explain why it was eventually placed in a human tomb.
Beyond showing that Neolithic people valued animals as companions, not merely as workers or food sources, the puppy provided two other significant firsts. It is the oldest known burial of a domestic dog and also the first grave to contain both humans and canines.
7. The Panama Burials
In 1954, archaeologist Samuel Lothrop documented gruesome burials in Panama. The site contained sacrifices, cannibalism, and other violent deaths (AD 550–850). This report became a widely cited reference for writers eager to emphasize how brutal the indigenous people once were.
In 2018, the Smithsonian Institution decided to reexamine the evidence. Lothrop had sent 77 skeletons from the Playa Venado graveyard to them, along with his records. The review revealed no proof of the violence Lothrop believed most individuals suffered at the time of their deaths. In fact, it showed that the culture treated their dead with ritual and care.
Lothrop is not at fault here. In his time, the positioning of bones was often misinterpreted. He believed an open jaw indicated a live burial, but in reality, it was simply the muscles relaxing after death. He also took seriously the accounts of 16th-century Spanish conquistadors who portrayed South Americans as violent in order to justify their conquests.
Lothrop’s expertise helped uncover the truth. His exceptionally thorough records allowed the Smithsonian to finally correct the long-held myth of a savage ancient Panama.
6. The Hand Of Preles
In 2017, treasure hunters in Switzerland used metal detectors to scan the ground near Lake Biel. They uncovered something so peculiar that experts were initially skeptical. Archaeologists had never encountered anything like it—an almost life-sized hand crafted from bronze, adorned with a gold cuff. Tests ruled out the possibility of a hoax.
The artifact was found to be 3,500 years old, making it the oldest metal human body part discovered in Europe. Its purpose remains a mystery. One clue lies in the hollow interior, large enough to insert a pole or even part of a real hand. This led to the theory that it may have been a ritualistic prosthetic.
Archaeologists returned to the site and struck gold. Not only did the team recover a bronze finger, but they also uncovered a curious grave. Inside was a man, likely the owner of the hand, as gold flakes matching those found with the hand were found with him.
The burial appeared to have been intentionally placed atop an even older stone structure. The location, combined with the hand, suggested that this individual once held a position of considerable power in life.
5. Russian Reservoir Mummy
In 2018, the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam in Russia reached a low point, allowing researchers to explore previously submerged areas that had been under water since the 1980s.
It didn't take long before they discovered an ancient stone tomb. Inside, they found the naturally mummified body of a young girl who had died 2,000 years ago. The grave goods suggested she was likely part of her group's elite.
Among the burial items were a beaded belt, a possible silk garment, ceramic tools, a mirror in a box, a potted meal, and a bag of nuts. The presence of these items, along with the food-filled vase, indicated she may have been a nomadic Hun.
The exact process that mummified her remains is not fully understood, but her greatest oddity lies in the fact that the mummy still retains some skin and soft tissue, even after 30 years submerged.
4. Post-Decomposition Decorations
Approximately 4,500 years ago, a young woman passed away in what is now Ukraine. Before being laid to rest inside a burial mound, someone took the time to decorate her bones, applying black dye with precision to her remains.
When archaeologists uncovered the burial mound years later, they initially assumed the markings were the result of animal interference, despite their regularity. However, in 2018, chemical analysis revealed that the lines were deliberately made by a human, using a substance akin to wood tar.
The study also uncovered an intriguing burial tradition. The artist waited until the woman's body had fully decomposed before decorating her bones directly. This unique practice in archaeology raises numerous questions—about the woman's identity, the cultural reasoning behind this post-mortem ritual, and the meaning of the symbols, if they truly represent one.
3. A Key to Antarctica's Ownership
Antarctica remains unclaimed—at least officially. Seven nations, including Chile, France, the UK, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, have laid down their territorial aspirations. The Antarctic Treaty System, enacted in 1959, froze those claims and halted any additional bids from other countries. The treaty also designated Antarctica as a natural reserve, which is a primary reason the area remains so pristine.
But this could change in 2048, when the treaty comes up for review. At that time, these seven nations might have the chance to secure ownership of the continent. Chile may have an edge, thanks to the discovery of human remains in 1985.
An unusual skull was found on Yamana Beach in Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands. It was identified as belonging to a woman from Chile. For reasons still unclear, she died in Antarctica sometime between 1819 and 1825.
This makes her the first human ever discovered on the continent. Critics of any country claiming Antarctica fear that her remains could be used to justify Chile's claim to ancestral rights. Their concern is valid, as one important issue in the treaty’s review is the potential lifting of bans on mining and resource extraction.
2. Vaporized Bodily Fluids
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, it became infamous for annihilating the Roman city of Pompeii. While Pompeii is typically the focus of attention, the nearby settlement of Herculaneum also suffered significant damage.
It is well-known that most of Pompeii’s citizens perished from injuries or suffocation caused by the ash that encased their bodies in the now-iconic gray casts. Though their deaths were tragic, recent research reveals that the people of Herculaneum met a different, though equally terrifying fate.
On that fateful day, many people tried to find shelter in a boathouse near the ocean. Their remains show clear signs of being burned alive by the pyroclastic flows—extremely hot volcanic material traveling at incredible speeds.
The actual cause of death was when the intense heat vaporized the victims’ bodily fluids. The red and black markings on the bones indicated that the blood had boiled away, leaving behind an iron residue. Some skulls had shattered, likely from the brain experiencing the same process. At least, the death was instantaneous.
1. A Vampire Child
La Necropoli dei Bambini (“Cemetery of the Babies”) is a chilling and strange site. Even archaeologists find it unusual. The cemetery is filled only with infants and the partial remains of puppies, ravens, and toads. Another curious discovery was made there in 2018.
The child found is the oldest discovered at this fifth-century Italian burial site. The child, who died at 10 years old, was buried with a rock clenched between their jaws. Previous findings in Italy suggest that people believed this action would prevent the dead from rising.
The child was given the grim local moniker of the “Vampire of Lugnano.” While this evokes supernatural connotations, the truth is far more tragic: the child was likely a victim of a devastating epidemic. Evidence indicates that many of the infants buried in this area succumbed to a fatal malaria outbreak, with most of them carrying the deadliest strain of the parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
The 10-year-old's grave symbolizes the terror of a community torn apart by an epidemic. La Necropoli dei Bambini stands alone in its tragic nature. Beyond its sorrow, the strange ritual use of animals there—such as why many puppies were found without heads or jaws—may provide valuable insights for research in the years to come.
