The world's oldest mummy is at risk of decomposition.

Ancient mummies buried more than 7,000 years ago in the arid desert of northern Chile are turning into a black, slimy substance due to the effects of climate change.

Mummies in the San Miguel Museum in Arica, Chile. Photo: Reuters.

Chilean researchers have discovered that high humidity can lead to a bacterial bloom on the skin of 7,000-year-old prehistoric mummies named Chinchorro, Reuters reported yesterday. They are seeking ways to preserve the mummies, protecting them from decomposition and safeguarding the world's oldest collection of mummies, housed at the archaeological museum of the University of Tarapaca in Chile.

The Chinchorro were a prehistoric people who lived in scattered communities and relied on fishing for survival in the coastal deserts of Chile and Peru. They preserved their dead through mummification as a religious practice, creating a bridge between the world of the living and the dead. Approximately 282 mummies have been found beneath the arid sands of the region, but scientists believe hundreds more remain underground.

Some Chinchorro mummies predate Egyptian mummies by nearly 4,000 years. The oldest mummies discovered in the Antacama Desert date back to 7020 BC, while the oldest Egyptian mummies date back to 3,000 BC.

"We dated the mummies to 7,000 years ago. So, they are relatively old compared to mummies found in Egypt," said Sergio Medina Parra, an anthropologist at Tarapaca University.

The Arica region and the surrounding Atacama Desert are among the driest areas in the world. Rainfall here is less than 0.05 cm per year. The year-round dry climate has helped preserve the mummies for the past 7,000 years. However, the area is becoming increasingly dry.becomeWetness is a result of climate change in recent years.

Scientists at the University of Tarapaca museum first observed these slimy black patches on the skin of Chinchorro mummies about 10 years ago. Over time, the mummies deteriorated at an alarming rate as the skin decomposed into a black, viscous substance.

A research team at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences conducted a series of tests to understand the causes of mummy degradation. They found that bacteria that grow on human skin thrive on mummy skin in high-moisture environments. According to the test results, mummies need to be preserved in an environment with 40-60% humidity to prevent further degradation.

According to VNE