![]() ![]() Once their body fat was gone, they spent a few more years drinking a poisonous sap to cause vomiting to get rid of bodily fluids. Some Buddhist monks practiced self-mummification by spending years starving their bodies and only eating foods that promoted decay. It’s thought either extreme heat or the area’s rich geological stores of sulfur and other minerals spurred the mummification process. Those bodies weren’t mummified on purpose. Take, for instance, the Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato, a collection of over 100 mummies found buried in above-ground crypts in Mexico. Since most bacteria can’t thrive in extreme temperatures, exposing a corpse to the sun, fire or freezing temperatures was an uncomplicated way to create a mummy. Others reserved the rite of passage for the wealthy or people of status. Mummification rituals varied by culture, and it’s thought some cultures mummified all their citizens. Many civilizations-Incan, Australian aboriginal, Aztec, African, ancient European and others-have practiced some type of mummification for thousands of years to honor and preserve the bodies of the dead. ![]() The practice of preserving a body as a mummy is widespread across the globe and throughout time. ![]()
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