| Beauty of Xiaohe Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Beauty of Xiaohe aka Beauty of Small River |
| Age | 25 - 40 |
| Sex | Female |
| Status | high |
| Height | |
| Source | |
| Culture | Indo-European |
| Date(s) | |
| Site | Lop |
| Current Location | |
| Location | |
| Catalog # | |
In 2003, archeologists excavating China's Xiaohe Mudi graveyards, recovered from Ördek’s Necropolis, Small River Cemetery No. 5, 15 mummies including The Beauty. The Beauty of Xiaohe dates to around the same period and to a similar culture as the Beauty of Loulan more than 3,800 years ago. Xiaohe is located roughly 120 kilometers to the west-south-west of Loulan.
Mummification[]
Arid conditions and saline soil worked to naturally mummify the body.
Due to the natural salinity, aridity, and freeze drying properties of the environment, Xinjiang has produced some of the best naturally preserved mummies in the world.
Studies[]
When the cover of her boat coffin was removed, she was found wearing a grand white hat of felted wool. The coffin boat was filled with small pouches containing herbs. She wore fur-lined boost and the body was surrounded by grave goods, including an intricately carved wood phallus placed on her chest.
Of Caucasian descent, she was found within a large oval mound that contained five layers of mummies. The gender specific graves were marked with wooden poles; coffins were shaped like bottomless poplar boats with hide-top coverings. The mummies were in a reclining position, and wrapped in wool cloaks and string undergarments. Hats and ankle-high boots were lined with fur and a white milky covering had been placed on the hair and body.
The Beauty of Xiaohe
Xiaohe’s tomb also included intricately woven baskets, wood combs, masks and ma-huang, a stimulant.
Recent DNA tests indicate that her ancestry originated somewhere between southeastern Europe and the Ural Mountains.
References[]
Black, J. (2013, June 23). The Mystery of the Xiaohe Mummies in China. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/mystery-xiaohe-mummies-china-00578
Ponic, J. (2016, October 25). World's Best Preserved Mummies. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from https://owlcation.com/humanities/PreservedMummies
H. Mair, Victor "Ancient Mummies of the Tarim Basin" Expedition Magazine 58.2 (2016): n. pag. Expedition Magazine. Penn Museum, 2016 Web. 02 Nov 2019 <http://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/?p=23790>