Protest over child mummies

[emad]

Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires
Wednesday September 21, 2005
The Guardian


They are the most perfectly preserved mummies in the world - their skin so intact that they look practically alive, their clothes still bright and new, the remains of their last meal still undigested inside their stomachs.

But plans to put on display the remains of three 500-year-old Inca children have run into resistance from Argentinian indigenous groups who consider the project an insult to their ancestors and even some scientists who have expressed misgivings about the project.


The mummies were found in 1999 by a National Geographic team on the 22,000-foot (6,700m) peak of Llullaillaco, a mountain in the Andes between Argentina and Chile. The three children, two girls and a boy aged between six and 15, were left on the peak to freeze to death in the 15th century, shortly before the arrival of Spanish colonists in America, apparently as a human sacrifice. But a combination of high altitude, low oxygen and humidity levels as well as zero-degree temperatures has produced a near-miraculous preservation.

The mummified remains are to go on display at the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology in Argentina's Salta province in November, and are expected to become a big tourist attraction. But opposition to the plan is growing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,11439,1574798,00.html

[Waya]

1. That's sick.....

...maybe the Indigenous people of the world oughta display some dug up White People for a change. See, if that might change minds......

[spinbaby]

2. Actually

If someone were to display my 500-year-old mummified ancesters, I think I'd be more fascinated than offended. But then I'm not of a culture that venerates ancestors :shrug:

[LizMoonstar]

3. I have to agree.

I'd be proud that my ancestors were helping people learn even long after their deaths. If there were anything worthwhile anyone could get out of me in a museum exhibit or a study after my death, I'm up for it.

I kind of understand why people are upset, but I kind of don't. :shrug: confused as always.

[Meldread]

4. I hope someone digs me up in 500 or so years.

At least I wouldn't be totally forgotten. :P

[tigera2001]

5. This isn't the first time this has happened

They stopped displaying the mummy at my local museum for the same reason. She was taken off display about 7 or 8 years ago for restoration and refurbishment and was supposed to go back on display in 2000 (I think), but never did because the museum officials were worried that displaying her would offend someone (I'm not sure whether somebody actually DID complain or if they were being "cautious"). Now they only display her sarcophagus (I have no idea where the body is).

As far as this business goes, I'd say I'm neutral. I'd certainly like to be remembered in 500 years, but I can see why people might be upset. Everyone has a different perspective on how to treat the dead. On the one hand, these children are gonna be stared and gawked at for the next 100 years, but on the other hand, this exhibit, if done the right way, is a remarkable opportunity to educate people on another culture.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. Although it would, no doubt, be a very interesting display, remains

and artifacts such as these are treated differently here in the U. S. under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. More info at link:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nagpra/

I can understand why some people would be very sensitive to this.

[cynatnite]

7. Mummified children on display sounds sick

It should be up to the indigenous groups to decide and if they say no, then no.

I watched a show some time ago about a submarine from the time of the civil war which was called the Hunley. It was found and brought up. The bodies were hidden from cameras because they wanted to show them respect.

It's screwed up.