the world's oldest mummy emits black mucus

The collection of human mummies found in northern Chile turned into a slimy black due to rising moisture levels. Researchers still do not know how to cope. More than 100 mummies that are at least 7000 years old, have begun to change gelatin or agar structure. In fact, last year local officials enlisted it to the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, as a world heritage site. Getting that agreement, of course, will not save the mummy from the change. But the researchers hope it can increase the attention of the international community, so they can get the solution of the black mucus problem. Concentrated mucus is considered a result of bacterial colonies that thrive in the skin of mummies. Anthropologist who is also head of department at Tarapaca University in Chile said the registration was not solely for the purpose of being registered. " But it is more to the start of the development of the conservation tool process with the Chilean state and the international community," he said as quoted by Reuters. Since the early 1900s, nearly 300 human mummies have been found along the coasts of southern Peru and northern Chile, including adults, children, infants, and fetuses who have miscarried. "There is no word yet whether the registration to UNESCO will be approved, but we hope that local researchers will find the help needed to keep the mummy safe," he said.