Soaring Humidity in Norther Chile Decomposing Chinchorro Mummies

Chinchorro mummies which have been intact for thousands of years are falling prey to changing environment.

According to NBC News, increasing humidity has allowed microbes present on mummy skins to start decomposition which, if left uncontrolled, could decompose the 7000-year old artifacts. The mummies are remains of people who lived in northern parts of Chile and southern Peru. Experts noted that mummy skin is turning dark due to decomposition.

"In the last ten years, the process has accelerated. It is very important to get more information about what's causing this and to get the university and national government to do what's necessary to preserve the Chinchorro mummies for the future," said Marcela Sepulveda, professor of archaeology at the University of Tarapacá, in a news release. The university has 120 mummies in its archaeological museum located in Chile's Arica city.

In order to understand the cause, scientists conducted experiments by varying humidity in the museum to determine how it affects mummies. They found that humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent are ideal. They also noted that humidity levels in Arica have been on the rise and the decomposition being noted in the last decade.

While the study will help the museum take steps to protect its mummies, researchers are concerned how rising humidity will affect the hundreds of mummies that lay buried in outside the museum.

"What about all of the artifacts out in the field? How do you preserve them outside the museum? Is there a scientific answer to protect these important historic objects from the devastating effects of climate change?" asked another scientist Ralph Mitchell who is working to save the mummies.

The Chinchorro mummies date as far as 5050 BC, making them older than Egyptian mummies.