Named after the millenary culture of which they were a part, the Chinchorro mummies are known for being archaeologically considered the oldest finding in the world related to this form of mortuary preservation; even with about 2 millennia of existence prior to their Egyptian counterparts.
The Chinchorro culture culture existed millennia ago, approximately between 7020 and 1500 B.C., before any present-day city or other civilization, and spread from the southern coast of Peru in the north, to approximately what is now the region of Antofagasta Region to the south. This culture was mainly fishermen and gatherers, so in addition to being able to adapt to the desert conditions of what is now the Atacama Desert, they also managed to conquer the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean to supply themselves with food and survive.
The first Chinchorro mummies were discovered at Chinchorro Beach in the Arica and Parinacota Region—from which the name of the indigenous culture also derives—in 1917 as a result of an excavation and study conducted by the German archaeologist Max Uhle. Although no remains of pottery or metalworking have ever been found—suggesting that they did not engage in either of these practices—the Chinchorro did have specific rituals related to death or their concept of it. Their mummifications are not only the oldest on record but also exhibit a level of complexity typical of more technologically advanced cultures.
The reasons why the culture decided to start using this practice of preserving bodies are not clear, but it has been discovered that the high natural levels of arsenic in the place induced the death of many children and fetuses. It is believed, therefore, that mummification corresponded to an empathic practice that sought relief for the relatives of the deceased infants. On the other hand, there is also the possibility that the same minerals present in the area provoked a kind of natural mummification that they later perfected.
Experts divide the mummies found in 4 groups mainly; the black mummies (5000 -2800 B.C), red mummies (2500 -1500 B.C), mummies with bandages (2620 B.C) and the mummies with mud cloak (2500 - 1700 B.C). Due to the fact that in almost most cases no material elements were found accompanying the bodies, it can be deduced that the Chinchorro did not have a strong belief in an afterlife or that they did not give a major importance to materiality, but mainly to ritual for human and community reasons.
Today, there are approximately 180 mummies that are protected, preserved, and studied by the University of Tarapacáat the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum and at the Colón 10 Site. There is also a smaller collection at the Santiago Natural History Museum and Valparaíso.
Since 1998, the Chinchorro mummies have been included on Chile’s Tentative List, which is essentially the preliminary step toward being designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the meantime, numerous books, archaeological studies, and documentaries attest to the heritage and historical significance of these mummies and the research conducted on them.