What is a mummy? It's any
dead body (human or animal--from anywhere in the world or possibly beyond) that has been preserved, through
artificial or accidental means.
In other words, either someone made the mummy (that's why
it's artificial) or something (such as an unusual act of nature) produced the
mummy naturally (that's why it's accidental). In both cases,
the body, after death, does not decay and become a skeleton; the skin (or fur) is somehow
preserved. Even a fossil (such as the fossil of a baby
dinosaur) in which the soft tissue and organs are preserved (even though they are now
stone) can be considered a mummy.
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Artificial
mummies were made deliberately by people in various civilizations (such as ancient Egypt); a variety of
processes were sometimes used--even within the same civilization.
Accidental
(or natural) mummies were (and still are)
created accidentally by nature--through drying, freezing, or other natural processes.
Some accidental mummies are very old, others can be much more recent.
The problem with
mummies today is that they are actually disappearing all around the world. Some are
disappearing because they haven't been kept very well in museums; insect damage and/or hot
and too dry conditions have caused some mummies to disintegrate. Other mummies are
disappearing because many people believe it is not right to look
at a dead person in a museum--no matter how old the mummy is.
It makes sense that
recent mummies (including those of Native Americans, found in southwest U.S. caves, dating
from 400 to 600 years ago) be banned from museum exhibit (and they are--now--but it took
years for Congress to pass a law stopping this practice). You see, recent mummies can
often be traced to a certain family that still exists--and why would anyone allow the body
of a great great great great great grandparent to be displayed for the world to see?
On the other hand,
even ancient mummies (including those from Egypt) are being removed from some museums,
especially in the United States. You won't find one at the Smithsonian Institution in
Washington, D.C., any more. Even in Europe, some mummies (of the Guanches, for example)
have been taken off display, and it's possible that certain bog bodies may be next.
Many archaeologists
and other scientists believe that museum mummies provide a valuable educational service
for the public. They teach about past civilizations and societies--and they also teach
about the inevitability of death.
