In a fascinating discovery, Chinese archaeologists stumbled upon a 300-year-old burial site that has left experts puzzled. The burial site contained three individuals, but what baffled researchers was the contrasting condition of their remains. While two were reduced to mere skeletons, one was perfectly preserved. However, the preserved body took an eerie turn, turning black and emitting a foul odor within hours of being exposed. The perplexing case of this ancient mummy sheds light on the burial practices and customs of China’s Qing Dynasty, leaving researchers intrigued and inquisitive.
A Unique Find:
The 300-year-old mummy, believed to be from the Qing Dynasty, was uncovered on a construction site in Xiangcheng, Henan Province, central China. Archaeologists were astonished by the meticulous preservation of the man’s face when the coffin was opened. However, this preservation was short-lived, as the face started turning black and the body began to decay rapidly. The remains were quickly transported to a nearby university for further study and analysis.
Baffled Chinese archaeologists are studying a 300 year-old coffin found with two others in which two of the bodies had been reduced to skeletons, but in which the third was almost perfectly preserved
Unintentional Preservation:
Unlike ancient Egyptian mummies that were intentionally preserved, the Chinese did not employ any preservation methods. Instead, they placed great emphasis on securing the body within substantial caskets and sturdy tomb chambers. The deceased were expected to continue their existence within the tomb, making physical integrity a priority. Environmental factors, such as burial in charcoal-covered lacquered caskets, may have unintentionally preserved some bodies during the Qing Dynasty.
When the coffin was opened by historians at Xiangcheng said the man’s face was almost normal but within hours it had started to go black, and a foul smell had appeared
The Mystery Deepens:
Historian Dong Hsiung believes that the deceased man may have been a highly important official during the early Qing Dynasty. He suggests that the man’s family might have used certain items to preserve the body before burial, which delayed the natural disintegration process. The astonishing aging process of the preserved body within a day has intrigued experts, and they are putting forth significant efforts to preserve what remains of this fascinating historical find.
A Legacy of Preserved Bodies:
The Qing Dynasty, which was the last imperial dynasty in China, left behind a legacy of preserved bodies. In 2011, a 700-year-old mummy of a high-ranking woman from the Ming Dynasty was discovered in eastern China. The preservation of these mummies provides valuable insights into the funeral practices and customs of ancient Chinese civilizations.
The body was unearthed on October 2013 on a construction site in a two-metre-deep hole in the ground at Xiangcheng in Henan province, central China
Historian Dong Hsiung said: ‘The clothes on the body indicate he was a very senior official from the early Qing Dynasty. What is amazing is the way time seems to be catching up on the corpse, ageing hundreds of years in a day’
The 700-year-old mummy was found in the city of Taizhou, in Jiangsu Province in 2011
The mummy, found in 2011, was wearing traditional Ming dynasty costume, and in the coffin were bones, ceramics, ancient writings and other relics
The 300-year-old-in-a-day Chinese mummy continues to confound experts and researchers, revealing new aspects of burial practices during the Qing Dynasty. As archaeologists delve deeper into the enigmatic preservation process, this remarkable discovery promises to shed more light on the rich cultural heritage of ancient China. The study of these preserved bodies is a testament to the advanced practices and beliefs of the past, opening doors to a deeper understanding of our ancestors’ way of life.
Source : https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2460931/The-Chinese-mummy-aged-300-years-day-Experts-baffled-perfectly-preserved-body-turned-BLACK-just-hours-coffin-opened.html
