Brazilian Mummies

Abstract

Mummified bodies are found in many areas due to processes that interfere with the influence of external and internal agents on corpse. Factors such as climate, temperature, and soil are external agents that directly influence the mummification process. Brazil, despite being a tropical country, has in some regions very local climate, temperature, and soil that favor the process of total or partial conservation of bodies. However, it is possible to find a large number of skeletons that, as well as mummies, are relevant for studies by professionals from different areas, such as anthropologists, archaeologists, and paleoparasitologists. Certain locations in Brazil gained prominence due to the findings. This chapter presents some of the important findings in very peculiar regions of our country. Although there are relatively large numbers of skeletons in Brazil, scholars are surprised by the findings of fully or partially conserved bodies found in a country with such peculiar and unique climate characteristics.