Mexican consultants say mummy exhibit might pose well being dangers

However the Nationwide Institute of Anthropology and Historical past mentioned in a press release that one of many mummies additionally seems to have fungal growths.

The federal institute distanced itself from a state authorities choice to show a half dozen of the mummies in glass instances at a tourism truthful in Mexico Metropolis. It was unclear whether or not the instances have been air-tight, and the institute mentioned it had not been consulted concerning the show.

“It’s much more worrisome that they’re nonetheless being exhibited with out the safeguards for the general public in opposition to biohazards,” mentioned the institute.

“From a few of the revealed pictures, a minimum of one of many corpses on show, which was inspected by the institute in November 2021, reveals indicators of a proliferation of doable fungus colonies,” the institute wrote.

“This could all be rigorously studied to see if these are indicators of a danger for the cultural legacy, in addition to for many who deal with them and are available to see them.”

The mummies are often on show within the Guanajuato state capital. However they’ve travelled earlier than, and a few have been exhibited in the US in 2009.

They have been naturally preserved, some say due to the local weather, mineral-rich atmosphere, different due to the sealed crypts, although nobody is aware of for positive. They have been dug up beginning within the 1860s, as a result of their households may not pay burial charges, and placed on show.