Questions about World Mummies 

Last Updated 08 April 2008

Bog Mummies

QUESTION from Brian: After seeing your website, I decided to email you with a request. The 'Mummy Autopsy' series on Discovery Channel featured a mummy of a sailor in the British Navy (circa 1700). This particular sailor was of African descent, and had a particularly hard life. Unfortunately I am in England and I would like to know more about this episode of the series, as I couldn't view it when it was aired in the U.S. Do you have any information on this unfortunate person, as I'm not sure if it will be screened in England. I have a vested interest in this 'unknown sailor' and any help you are able to give me will be greatly appreciated.. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You could do a Google search for: Mummy Autopsy Sailor and see what turns up--you will find a link to a Florida site...though the article doesn't give specifics. Other search engines may turn up other information. I did not see the show myself...but I suspect that this is the British sailor who has been also called a French sailor. Go to these links: Link 1 and Link 2. Both have photos and date to the same time frame.

QUESTION from Jim: I have recently acquired a Jivaro head and wanted to seek proper cleaning and care tips from you. I am hesitant to take any steps prior to consulting with those more knowledgeable. Any assistance, tips or other informational sources would be greatly appreciated. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Sorry, but I have no idea. Your best bet is to contact a museum and ask a curator there.

QUESTION from Frank: As I have found your site one of the most comprehensive, accurate and up to date on subject, I hope you might offer me some insights.... I'm a pastor and just interested in our human history in general as well.) First, ...what causes the 'hair loss' since his tanned bear-skin cap was found intact and yet his whole body seems very naked? Lastly, what do you make of the marginally reported skull injury, in light of the more recent finding of his violent death? (Ms. Fowler introduced an idea put forth by Dr. Oeggl which hinted that Ötzi might not have died where found? So is it an accident, murder, ritual, or cover-up? Again, thank you for your interesting site... and may you continue to attract readers of all ages. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Here are answers to your questions: First, basically, his body was naturally "scalped" by the process of mummification. The upper layer of skin including most of his hair was peeled right off the body. Though he had a full head of hair, it was not found attached to the body. Your second question is more difficult. Oeggl seems convinced that his body might have migrated in the glacier during the 5000+ years. Others, like Dr. Fleckinger, seem convinced that his body was safely contained in a naturaltrough in the rugged terrain and the movement of the glacier bypassed the body. Clearly he died as a result of wounds on his body. Were these wounds caused by people who were trying to murder him or by people who were performing a ritual...I can't say and I doubt that anyone ever will be able to. As for the head wound, I think more research will have to be done. I am also not certain how interested scientists are in exploring this issue. Hope this helps a little. 

QUESTION from John: I am researching the Lyon quintuplets who were born near Kevil, Kentucky, about 1896. They only lived approximately 2 weeks and were the first quints born in the US (?). Supposedly their mother would not let them be buried for fear someone would try to steal the bodies, and she left them under her bed for several years, finally selling them to a museum for $100. I am trying to find the name of the museum. The story was told on the History Channel, but I did not get the name of the museum and location. I live approximately 5 miles from where the quints were born and died. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: The mummified bodies of the Lyon quintuplets were given to the Army Medical Museum in Washington DC--it has since been renamed the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The accession number for the infants is 43411. There are two (brief) sources of information: Aufderheide's The Scientific Study of Mummies and Quigley's Modern Mummes. Both books have the same photo; the quality of the photo in Aufderheide's is better; the information in Quigley's is more detailed. Good luck with your research! 

QUESTION from Mark: I can find little in the way of the Fragonard Museum of Mummies, images, techniques, etc. I'm wondering if you know of any texts. Thank you.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: It's not exactly a mummy museum but an anatomical museum in Paris. You'll find some information about the museum and Fragonard, an 18th Century anatomist, who created about 3,000 human "sculptures" before he was fired for reasons of insanity, in Brier's The Encyclopedia of Mummies. You might also find what you're looking for on the museum's website which does include many photos of some of his famous "works."

QUESTION from Peggy: I am a nursing student (RN) at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in New Richmond, Wisconsin and I am doing a research paper on microbes (microbiology) of ancient mummies. I can find quite a bit of information about the mummies and the discoveries themselves, but I can't seem to find any information (valid or otherwise) about how they determined that certain diseases existed or what particular problems that mummy had. I would like to report about the scientific evidence (i.e. DNA testing) of these mummies and how the authorities came to their conclusions. Do you have any insights? Any direction would be most helpful. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: One of the books you want to find is Disease by Joyce Filer. You may want to look for any book by Rosalie David who is the keeper of Egyptology at the University of Manchester museum in the UK. Her latest book is called Conversations with Mummies but almost anything she has written would have information about diseases found in Egyptian mummies. Not much DNA has been found in mummies--the conditions that help mummification seem to destroy DNA, so there's very little here. Some South American mummies (the Inkas) have had a few minor studies done. The new book by Arthur Aufderheide, The Scientific Study of Mummies also has some helpful information. 

QUESTION from Kelly: Our biology class is attempting to update the most recent film on Otzi. We are trying to make it as real as possible, with our theory of how he died acted out. For my part in this film, I need to recreate his ax. This is where I need your help. With what materials was the ax made from? Also, what type of process or procedure was used during the making of his ax? If you sent me this information it would be greatly appriciated. Your website has provided the best information so far. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Otzi's ax was 60 cm long. It was made from a portion of the trunk of a yew tree where a right-angled branch grew. The haft of the ax (i.e., the handle) came from the trunk; the shaft (the part onto which the copper blade was fitted) came from the branch--naturally joined. This allowed maximum durability. Most copper age axes are made from ash wood (Otzi's was the first one to be found made from yew). The copper blade was fitted into the shaft and wrapped with a leather binding; the binding was coated with birch tar (i.e., boiled sap from the birch tree). The shaft was forked at the end (about 7 cm long). The ax blade extended out of the leather binding about 2.6 cm. Hope this helps.

QUESTION from Clea: I am a student at Central Florida Community College and I am doing a report on the Iceman. I read in your website that the book A Man in the Ice by Konrad Spindler was out of date. However, I thought that there may still may be some information that I could use. For example, the information about the iceman's belongings seem useable and not too out of date. If this book still has information I can use in a report, can you tell which sections those are? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Thanks for writing . You can certainly still use Spindler's book for some of the basic information (how he was found, etc.), but you must remember that more tests have been done on all of this belongings in the meantime and that some of his conclusions or statements may now be incorrect. I would suggest that you use Brenda Fowler's book Iceman as an additional source...it is the most current book available. I don't know about your professor, but many look at the dates of your sources to see if they are current. If the Spindler book is the only one you can find, obviously you will have to use it. But I would make an effort to track down Fowler's book, too. It can only help you produce better research.

QUESTION from Christian: RANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Thanks for writing . I know very little about the topic of shrunken heads, but I believe the two that you have may come from the Jivaro Indians of South America. You might try to track down this book.  Some shrunken heads are fakes, but I do not have the ability to tell. I think your best bet is to take them to a museum and ask someone there to look them over. 

QUESTION from Linda: I have been avidly reading your website, as well as the numerous, helpful links you have provided. Thank you very much for this great information! I have been unable to find any discussions, either on the internet or in the books on loan from my local library, about the degree of pliability or stiffness of a mummy.  Before X-Ray technology, the study of mummies required that the body be unwrapped and samples taken of skin, hair, etc. My question is how elastic is a mummy?  Can you move an arm joint or bend/unbend a finger?  Or is the body so stiff that an attempt to change the position of the hand causes it to break? Also, does this pliability relate to the age of the mummy?  Would a newer mummy bend easily, an older one hardly at all, and very old mummies not bend at all? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Thanks for writing, Linda. I'm glad my website was able to help you.  Now for your question: mummies range in elasticity. Mostly, it depends on the manner of mummification more than anything else. For example, Egyptian mummies were dried; therefore, they are quite brittle when found. Bog bodies, on the other hand, were immersed in water for up to a few thousand years. This bath allowed the bodies of these accidental mummies to remain flexible (their bones often decalcified); when they were discovered, their limbs were so pliable that plaster casts of the bodies had to be made to make sure that (after study) they were returned to the original position in which they were found.Thanks for writing, Linda. I'm glad my website was able to help you.  Now for your question: mummies range in elasticity. Mostly, it depends on the manner of mummification more than anything else. For example, Egyptian mummies were dried; therefore, they are quite brittle when found. Bog bodies, on the other hand, were immersed in water for up to a few thousand years. This bath allowed the bodies of these accidental mummies to remain flexible (their bones often decalcified); when they were discovered, their limbs were so pliable that plaster casts of the bodies had to be made to make sure that (after study) they were returned to the original position in which they were found.

QUESTION from Rebecca: I have enjoyed your website a lot. I have tried to obtain information about the tomb of the Marquess of Tai (Hsin Chui). She is considered the best preserved mummy at the present. She is from the Han period, 2000 years old. Her tomb is considered like King Tut's in China. All my inquiries on the Internet were in vain, and I was a little disappointed when I did not find any information about her on your site. Please let me know if you have any information about her on your site. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You're right, I don't have any information about her on my site--and she is a very interesting mummy. She is sometimes called Lady Dai (so you might try researching this spelling). I don't know of any on-line information, but I can point you in the direction of two books that might be available at your public library: 1. The Encyclopedia of Mummies by Bob Brier (see pp. 102 and 103 for a short article--a good picture is included). 2. The Bogman and the Archaeology of People by Don Brothwell (see pp. 109-110--also a picture). Neither one has much information, though. 

QUESTION from Mike: Several years ago, I caught the tail-end of a documentary about a self-mummification process practiced in Asia among monks. I think they drank some kind of terpene resin (i.e., extract from evergreens) over a period of months or years until they completely became immobilized and died (usually in the lotus position). I've done several searches to find more info on this topic with little luck. Am I imagining this or did this practice really take place, and if so among whom? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Mike, I just came across a chapter in a new book by Heather Pringle called The Mummy Congress which has information about the self-mummification process used by the Buddhist Monks in Japan. The author does mention the drink and the entire process plus gives some references to other sources of information. 

QUESTION from Jim: Are there any good books with pictures or examples of Tattoos on mummies or ancient people. I have the book The Bogman by Brothwell and it has one very good example. Are there any books like this you know of? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't know of any books that specialize in photos of tattooed mummies--but you will want to find The Tarim Mummies by Mallory and Mair which shows a number of photos of Caucasian mummies from China. You will also want to search for photos of the Scythian mummies (some of these have been tattooed)--so have the Greenland mummies (a book by the same name is now out of print).

QUESTION from Brett: Do you know if any facial reconstructions have been made of any of the Tarim Basin mummies, and if so, where can I find  pictures of them? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: As far as I know, no reconstructions of these mummies have been done. Their faces even now are pretty evocative of what they looked like at the time of death.

QUESTION from Kristen: I just thought I would make a suggestion. Could put some pictures of the mummies or what ever else because I'm looking for pictures of the Iceman and I thought that that this would be a good site for it but it has none so please email me back with a reply. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Thanks for your suggestion about putting photos of the Iceman on my website. Unfortunately, taking photos of the Iceman is not permitted when you visit the museum in Bolzano, Italy. So I cannot post any photos of him. You might try to visit the Museum's own website where there are a few photos. I do try to post photos when it is permitted, so stay tuned for more additions.

QUESTION from Julie: Death is everywhere and I get curious. I'm just 17 and I know that death isn't around the corner. But sometimes we think about what we want when we die. I sometimes think about mummification instead of being buried or cremated. Is mummification of any kind legal in any country? Is it expensive? I ask this out of curiosity. I think it would be very cool if 1000 years from now, people found me and I had a story to tell. Thanks for reading this. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Julie, I get questions like yours frequently, so it is not odd to ask about something like this at all. As far as I know there are no laws against mummification. In fact, when bodies are prepared for a funeral they are embalmed...which is a form of mummification (though not as complete or thorough as the Egyptian method). There is a place in Utah that will mummify someone for prices starting at $60,000 on up. That's a bit steep for most people. I think it's nice that you would like people 1000 years to now have a story about you (and your mummy). The way I look at, it's what we do now on Earth that may have people talking about us 1000 years later (that's the best story we can write to be remembered by). And that's also why we should write down our stories so people in the future can read them. I hope you keep writing! 

QUESTION from Jim: I need pictures of plasticene mummies for a thesis project...can you help? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: The NY Times had an article (I cite it on one of my pages) that contained two or three photos. The best source of photos is the catalog of the van Hagens exhibit in Mannheim, Germany a few years ago. I have information posted about the exhibit on my site—and your best bet is to contact the museum and find out if the catalog is still available (it was about $20 when I bought it). The catalog has about 200 pages of full-color photos. It's possible that an American library has a copy of the catalog. Can you use OCLC? [And a new book by Charlotte Wilcox has a few photos of the plasticene mummies.]

QUESTION from James: I am writing to you in hopes that you might point me in the right direction.  I am looking for information on a particular European (possibly French) doctor who experimented with mummification in the 18th or 19th century.  I am unsure of the correct spelling as I have only heard the name, but it sounds like Dr. Fraganard.  Perhaps you've heard of him?  He's most famous for posing the figures of dead humans and horses, among other things, in a state of suspended animation.  He would dissect the body and then  reassemble it after having dipped the organs and tissues in a solution, creating a very lifelike composition. I would very much like to learn more about this person. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You almost have the name right: it's Fragonard. I believe that some of his creations can be found at the Institute of Anatomy (otherwise known as the Orfila Museum) in Paris. I don't know any of the details myself and would be interested in knowing more if you uncover anything.  

QUESTION from Karen: Last year I watched a documentary on mummies. One of the first mummies they showed was a child who had lived somewhere in Europe and died around 1900.  Her remains were preserved in a glass case, similar to the one depicted in "Snow White."  The child appeared to be about 2 1/2 or 3 years old. She had long golden hair.  She was perfectly preserved -- down to the eyelashes.  She looked like a little girl who had just fallen asleep. The narrator said that this little girl's body was the most well-preserved mummy in the world.  However, the technique used to preserve her is not known. I would like to know this child's name.  Also, are there any photos of her available on the web?  I have told my friends and co-workers about this hauntingly lifelike child-mummy and they don't  seem to believe me. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You are referring to an Italian mummy: Rosalia Lombardo. I believe that her body is in Palermo, Italy in the tombs of a Capuchin monastery. Here's a link to a page which will lead you to a photo or two of Rosalia.

QUESTION from R: I recently watched a program about mummies. The most interesting bit of information was that the popes of the Catholic Church are mummified as the catholic religion is the only other group to believe in resurrection as the Egyptians did. Being raised a Catholic, this struck me as odd.  I have not been able to find any other information on the subject.  If you could point me in the right direction or provide information it would be greatly appreciated.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I didn't see the program but I've had a number of enquiries lately about Catholic mummies. You will want to find a copy of the book Modern Mummies by Christine Quigley. You may also want to look at this link on the Discovery Channel site that has some

QUESTION from Harvey: I heard on local TV (Duluth MN of all places) that the Iceman is being thawed for further analysis. I hope they are wrong but what is happening? Where can I find an authoritative update on his status?  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I understand your concern--actually he was only thawed for 16 hours or so and I have a page posted on the development. Follow this link.

QUESTION from Diane: A week or two ago we saw a program on TV which featured a shop in the USA which had 3 mummies. One was an adult male and  another an adult female but the third was a 600 to 700 year old mummy of a child of about two years of age. Do you have any idea where these mummies are on display? I believe the shop was called The Old Curiosity Shop but cannot recall where exactly in the USA it was located. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You are talking about The Old Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington.

QUESTION from Heather: I recently visited Short Cave in Park City, Kentucky. This is a privately owned cave but on the tour it was mentioned that an Indian mummy had been found in this cave. Her name was Princess Fawn Hoof. I have no other information. If you have any information or can tell me where to look for information I would greatly appreciate it. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: A quick check on the Internet revealed that Fawn Hoof is mentioned on the Mammoth Cave website--Short Cave and Mammoth Cave are part of the same cave system but no details about the mummy are given there. The only written information I can find is in a book entitled Prehistoric Mummies from the Mammoth Cave Area, edited by Angelo I. George (George Publishing Co, 1869 Trevalian Way, Louisville, KY 40205). I purchased this book a few years ago at the Mammoth Cave Gift Shop...but you may be able to find it at a library (or perhaps can still order it from Mr. George himself. 

A brief history according to George's book: she was found in Short Cave in September 1811, was named Fawn Hoof in 1853, was exhibited at two world's fairs (1876 and 1893), was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1876, and was later dissected and "her bones stored in a box out of public view." I do not know if the Smithsonian still has her bones in its back rooms or if they have been repatriated to a tribe of Native Americans for reburial...but it would be interesting to find out. You will find more details in the George book.

QUESTION from Calvin: My sister told me that NC (where I live) is the home of soap mummies. She told me that the proper equation was an obese person, the soil of the Piedmont area, proper moisture, the person to have been in clothes and either no coffin or perhaps a primitive coffin. She said that with the humidity here and all those other ingredients that the people literally turned into soap and were mummified. Is this true? I've tried to look it up but have not been successful. Thanks again. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't know if NC is the "home" of soap mummies--they have been found many places. They are mummies that have been produced by the formation of adipocere. According to Christine Quigley's Modern Mummies, "adipocere is a waxy or greasy decomposition product resulting from chemical changes in soft tissues under conditions of high humidity and high environmental temperature"--like NC in the summer? These mummies have been found in other places too including underwater. According to scientists, fatty acids combine with sodium to form "hard soap" (quite crumbly)--later potassium can be added to the mix and turn the hard soap into "soft soap" (more like toothpaste). Some adipocere mummies look pretty good (though not like artificially-made mummies in Egypt or South America), but most are pretty gross. Quigley's book includes one photo on page 23. 

QUESTION from Aidan: I am a 10 year old boy, and I am doing a research project on mummies of the world. I have found most of my information off your web site, but there are two things I can't find. The first one I can't find is the Capuchin monks of Sicily, and the other one is the cave mummies if Guanajuato, Mexico. So please could you e-mail me back. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Unfortunately, I don't include any information about the Capuchin mummies on my site at this time. But you can find information about the Guanajuato mummies here. 

QUESTION: I have been trying to find articles on the recent discovery of mummies found in western China. Apparently, these were people who had European facial features and were found in the driest part of China and are believed to be the remains of people who lived there about 3,000 years ago. A number of tombs contained their remains and even more are about to be excavated. My web search has produced nothing. Would you have any sources you could provide for me? Thank you. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Try the March 1996 issue of National Geographic (pp. 44-51) for a good source. There are also two excellent books: The Mummies of Ürümchi and The Tarim Mummies.

QUESTION from David: My name is David. I am in the 6th grade in Illinois. I cannot find information on the mummy called little Al. Can you help me? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: The mummy you are interested in is Little Al (though he was originally called Little Alice--somebody made a big mistake). A naturally-mummified member of the Woodland Indians, he was found in a Kentucky Cave March 8, 1875. According to Bob Brier's book The Encyclopedia of Mummies, "the body was lying on a ledge protruding from a wall of the cave with ashes and charred sticks in front of it. There was a bowl, pipe, arrow points, and several pairs of moccasins." He is supposedly one of the best preserved native American mummies ever found. 

QUESTION from Jim: One of my students is researching cases in which a family member has preserved the corpse of a deceased relative (a la Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"). Could you help with some sources for this kind of information -- online or otherwise? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: There are many sources. The best (and only) book on the subject is Modern Mummies. Though the entire book does not cover your subject of interest, a number of mummies mentioned in the book do fit the criteria. I also tell one such story in my book How to Make a Mummy Talk. In general, however, you will have to hunt high and low to find relevant info. 

QUESTION from Ace (Curator, Needle World Body Modification Gallery and Museum, Toronto Canada): Could you inform me of all the known instances of tattooed mummies, the dates and locations of the finds, and any other pertinent information regarding mummified evidence of ancient body modification. I would appreciate it. I am currently doing research into mummified remains. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I wish I had the information you are looking for. I don't have it organized that way, unfortunately. What I can tell you is that many mummies were tattooed, including such famous examples as Ötzi the Iceman, Lindow Man, the Greenland Mummies, the Scythians (one was called the Ice Princess). But I don't have a full listing--and don't know where you could get one. Your museum looks fascinating-- and if you are able to make a fairly complete (or even partial) list, let me know and I'd be happy to provide a link from my website.

QUESTION from Matt: I'm not a student, I'm in the IT business trying to get my wife to use the internet more when she asks me (watching the Ira Einhorn story) Why would a body mummify? I (of course) tell her that she can quickly get the answer on the internet. An hour later I've gotten a lot of information on Egyptian mummies, Incan mummies, ice mummies, spirit mummies, and some of the religious philosophy behind mummification. I even know who to call if I want to be mummified. Unfortunately, what I still don't know is what natural conditions are necessarily present to cause mummification as opposed to decomposition. Yes, I know I could go to the library and find the answer, but the whole point was to prove I could get the answer on-line. Can you help? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Bodies become mummies under a number of conditions--most involve keeping moisture away from the body. Natural mummies are made in cold, dry places (like caves, glaciers) or in hot, dry places (like caves, deserts) or occasionally in bogs (very wet places that are lack oxygen and thus bacteria-- also full of tannins which cause the skin to turn to leather). You found it on the Internet!

QUESTION from Nick: What a great website! Very enjoyable to read and perfect for kids as well... I am currently researching mummies for a forthcoming  television special. My research and reading has suggested the existence of 'self-mummification' practices amongst certain Buddhist sects in Japan and Tibet. Essentially, as the monk approaches death he modifies his diet, drastically reducing the intake of liquids until after death, putrefaction is inhibited and a 'miraculous' slow rotting or mummified corpse results. Have you heard of these practices in China? We happen to be covering some mummy-related stories in China and would like to film (if we can get access) some relics and/or mummies resulting from these practices. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I have read about the mummies you're researching and have a bit about them (Japanese only) in my book HOW TO MAKE A MUMMY TALK. The best current resource I can recommend is a chapter in Cockburn, Cockburn and Reyman's book, Mummies, Disease, and Ancient Cultures (2nd ed), entitled "Mummies from Japan and China." It's published by Cambridge UP--and covers all the bases with the latest research and information...provides some leads to follow (plus a bibliography).

QUESTION from D: I'm a student at Western Washington University, I was doing some internet research looking for information on mummies. I'm doing a paper for my Anthropology class my subject for the paper is "Bodies were Mummified for Reasons other than Status," at least something close to those lines. I was wondering if there was any information you could give me. Your web site was very informative. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: The mummies you want to research are the Chinchorros--they did not appear to mummify based on status. Many of their mummies were children. On my site you will find information on two books that cover the Chinchorros: the Bernardo Arriaza book Beyond Death and the book Mummies, Disease, and Ancient Cultures--as well as many Chinchorro articles. You will want to read the books, though, since they have the most comprehensive information. A good research library should have them.

QUESTION from L: When I was about seven years old, I was looking through Smithsonian magazine and found a picture of a frozen mummy. I think his name was John Torrington. The picture scared the living daylights out of me! I am now 20 and I am trying to find a picture of it once again, to try and get rid of my terrible fear of that picture. I have looked in many places and can't find one (my Mom burned the Smithsonian a couple of years ago when I accidentally found the picture again! :-) Is there anywhere you can think of to look for the picture? Thanks for your help!  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: John Torrington was a member of the ill-fated Franklin expedition which sought a northwest passage.  You can find his photo (and others--all very gruesome) in the book Buried in Ice.   This is one of the most interesting "detective" cases--solved with the help of three mummies (one of them Torrington's).  

QUESTION FROM D: I'm looking for a picture of the Ice Mummy sometimes referred to as the Ice Princess, discovered in 1994 in the Altai region of Russia/Siberia. She was distinguishable by her beautiful jewelry but it's her tattoos that I am after. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You'll find her in the September/October 1994 issue of Archaeology.