| Chiquita Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Unknown |
| Age | 1500 years old |
| Sex | female |
| Status | |
| Height | 7 inches in height |
| Source | |
| Culture | North American |
| Date(s) | |
| Site | |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Wyoming |
| Catalog # | |
Chiquita is a mummified infant, probably stillborn or miscarried, dating to about AD 1500, and discovered in Wyoming. The child is believed to have been born with anencephaly. This mummy evidenced pale hair, and leathery skin. Following testing, the DNA showed that the child was of First Nations decent.
Mummification[]
Chiquita was discovered as a curiosity bought from a sheepherder in about 1929. It had apparently been found entombed in a cave in an upright, fetal position, and naturally preserved.
Studies[]
George Gill of the University of Wyoming was in touch with the family who were in possession of the mummy and requested permission to do testing. After examining the mummy, he determined evidence the rare anencephaly birth defect, meaning the baby's brain and skull had not fully developed or were missing.
Pathology[]
Harry Shapiro of the American Museum of Natural History led a team of anthropologists that later confirmed the mummy was, in fact, anencephalic. Scientists have also linked with another mummy called the "Pedro Mountain Mummy". The x-ray's of that mummy have been lost and the mummy itself was stolen in 1950, so scientists were not able to examine it further. The two are, to date, the only such mummies ever found.
Additional[]
Researchers hope to re-open the study of Chiquita due to ongoing advances in the scientific field regarding DNA testing and sampling.
External Links[]
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/6/meet-chiquita-wyomings-500-year-old-mummy/?page=all