Real-life mummy curse as preserved corpses pose risk to public at museum
Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter
We have more newsletters
A travelling display of mummies dating back to the 1800s may pose a health risk to the public.
The preserved corpses were unintentionally mummified when they were buried in crypts in dry, mineral-rich soil.
Some still have hair, leathery skin and their original clothes.
READ MORE: Woman who hit herself with hammer in grooming gang lie jailed for 8 and a half years
But one of the mummies also appears to have fungal growths, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said.
The federal institute distanced itself from a state government decision to display six of the mummies in glass cases at a tourism fair in Mexico City.
It is unclear if the cases are air-tight and the institute said it has not been consulted about the display.
“It is even more worrisome that they are still being exhibited without the safeguards for the public against biohazards,” said the institute.
“From some of the published photos, at least one of the corpses on display, which was inspected by the institute in November 2021, shows signs of a proliferation of possible fungus colonies,” the institute wrote.
-
Husband who slit wife's throat jailed for life thanks to Alexa recordings
“This should all be carefully studied to see if these are signs of a risk for the cultural legacy, as well as for those who handle them and come to see them.”
The mummies are usually on display in the Guanajuato state capital.
But they have travelled before, and some were exhibited in the United States in 2009.
They were naturally preserved, some say because of the climate, mineral-rich environment, other because of the sealed crypts, though no one knows for sure.
They were dug up starting in the 1860s, because their families could no longer pay burial fees, and put on display.
To get more stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here .
READ NEXT:
- Speedboat killer who killed Tinder date with hell ride on Thames moans from jail cell
- World famous porn star reveals perfect penis length after 'rating our d**k pics'
- Ukraine medic who stripped to raise money hits out at men after ditching 'lace panties'
- In the News
- Health issues
Source: Read Full Article