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Pictures: Lifelike "Wet Mummy" Found During Roadbuilding [China]
National Geographic ^ | Published March 10, 2011 | Ker Than

Posted on 03/21/2011 11:54:11 AM PDT by Red Badger

"Wet Mummy" Face

Photograph from Fame Pictures/Barcroft

With eyebrows, hair, and skin still intact after more than 600 years, a remarkably preserved Chinese "wet mummy" remains bundled in her quilt after centuries in a flooded coffin.

Removed from her wooden casket on March 1, the body had been found in a tomb accidentally uncovered by roadbuilders near the city of Taizhou (map).

"Wet mummies survive so well because of the anaerobic conditions of their burials," said archaeologist Victor Mair. That is, water unusually void of oxygen inhibits bacteria that would normally break down a body.

Unlike ancient Egyptian mummies, the corpse—likely from the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644)—was probably preserved only accidentally, said Mair, of the University of Pennsylvania.

"I don't know of any evidence that Chinese ever intentionally mummified their deceased," he said. "Whoever happened to encounter the right environment might become a preserved corpse."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; mummy
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More pics at link............

1 posted on 03/21/2011 11:54:14 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Where’s Bill???


2 posted on 03/21/2011 11:55:55 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (I am declaring 2011 the year of ME.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Out of frame.


3 posted on 03/21/2011 11:56:43 AM PDT by Salamander (I may be lonely but I'm never alone...and the nights may pass me by......but I never cry.)
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To: Salamander

Looks better than Helen Thomas.


4 posted on 03/21/2011 12:00:29 PM PDT by Col Frank Slade
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To: Red Badger

The pictures are absolutely amazing. One picture still has a jade (?) ring on his/her finger that almost shines a brilliant green. Thanks for posting.


5 posted on 03/21/2011 12:01:06 PM PDT by momtothree
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To: Col Frank Slade

Looks better than Helen Thomas.

************************

The real horror in this thought is that it is true.


6 posted on 03/21/2011 12:01:38 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans - Don't read their lips. Watch their hands.)
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To: Col Frank Slade

Or even better than Pelosi.


7 posted on 03/21/2011 12:01:41 PM PDT by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Best Cook on Free Republic! ;-))
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To: Col Frank Slade

That’s because it’s younger.


8 posted on 03/21/2011 12:02:15 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: Red Badger
Removed from her wooden casket on March 1, the body had been found in a tomb accidentally uncovered by roadbuilders near the city of Taizhou

If this happened in the US, the roadbuilding would come to a screeching halt.

9 posted on 03/21/2011 12:02:27 PM PDT by mlocher (Is it time to cash in before I am taxed out?)
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To: momtothree

10 posted on 03/21/2011 12:02:50 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Red Badger
They used to have a couple of "accidental mummies" in the Natural History Museum in D.C.

One of them is now at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.

They thought they were a husband and wife named Ellenbogen who died in the big yellow fever epidemic in Philly, but nobody by that name died there (or even lived there) around that time. And it looks like the lady is a good deal younger than anybody thought (and much younger than the man).

Apparently they're going to CAT scan them and try to find out more.

11 posted on 03/21/2011 12:03:29 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

Or even better than Pelosi.

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This poor Chinese lady had a superior mortician than the revenant Nancy Pelosi.


12 posted on 03/21/2011 12:03:34 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans - Don't read their lips. Watch their hands.)
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To: momtothree

A worker from the Taizhou Museum cleans the Chinese wet mummy's large jade ring on March 3. Jade was associated with longevity in ancient China. But in this case, the jade ring was "probably a sign of her wealth instead of a sign of any concern about the afterlife," Brook said.

13 posted on 03/21/2011 12:04:54 PM PDT by Red Badger (How can anyone look at the situation in Libya and be for gun control is beyond stupid. It's suicide.)
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To: Salamander

LOL!


14 posted on 03/21/2011 12:04:54 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (I am declaring 2011 the year of ME.)
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To: Red Badger; SunkenCiv

Do you think the burial clothes and ring suggests some sort of local nobility?


15 posted on 03/21/2011 12:06:15 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Red Badger

There has to be a joke somewhere in this about a “mood ring”.


16 posted on 03/21/2011 12:06:36 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (I am declaring 2011 the year of ME.)
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To: Red Badger

17 posted on 03/21/2011 12:07:17 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Judas Iscariot - the first social justice advocate. John 12:3-6)
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To: Red Badger

Very interesting...thank you.


18 posted on 03/21/2011 12:08:05 PM PDT by exPBRrat
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To: Mr. Lucky

Now that’s there’s funny! I don’t care who you are!


19 posted on 03/21/2011 12:08:24 PM PDT by pgkdan (Protect and Defend America! End the practice of islam on our shores before it's too late!)
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To: GeronL

No. In the article, they speculate that she was probably just a well-off person, but not royalty..........


20 posted on 03/21/2011 12:08:54 PM PDT by Red Badger (How can anyone look at the situation in Libya and be for gun control is beyond stupid. It's suicide.)
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