Spluch: Mexico's "Accidental" Mummies

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I've always assumed that many societies have practiced the mummification of human remains, often as a way to prepare loved ones for the afterlife.

To my surprise, not all mummies, however, are created intentionally. In Guanajuato, Mexico, some of the bodies had been mummified as a result of the region's extremely dry conditions.

These amazing mummies are located in a fascinating museum that is home to more than 100 local mummies!

In the beautiful Mexican colonial city of Guanajuato, a fascinating museum is home to more than 100 local mummies. The mummified remains weren't prepared by the people of Guanajuato, but were instead created as a result of extremely dry weather conditions coupled with an overcrowded cemetery. Their discovery initially surprised the locals—and put Guanajuato on the mummy map.

The residents of Guanajuato, Mexico, display considerable respect for the mummies of their ancestors—which may seem a bit odd considering how they were created and eventually discovered.

In the past, the town charged a fee to bury loved ones in the crowded cemetery. The fee could be paid in annual installments, which was a desirable option for the town's poor. However, if for any reason payments were discontinued, the bodies were removed from their tombs to free up more space.

In the late 1800s, several corpses were exhumed. The townspeople were surprised to find that some of the bodies had been mummified as a result of the region's extremely dry conditions.

Because mummification was unintentional, the mummies represent a broad social spectrum of the community. In societies that practiced ceremonial mummification, typically only the powerful and wealthy citizens were mummified.

More images after the jump.