Since the 1960s, the small town of San Bernardo, nestled in the heart of the Colombian Andes, has been the scene of a strange phenomenon. Residents regularly discover bodies that have spontaneously mummified in the vaults of the municipal cemetery!
Saturnina Torres de Bejarano, who died 30 years ago, is one of the most remarkable cases: she is so well preserved that she has her place in the town museum, alongside the bodies of thirteen other people. An oddity whose extent it is only possible to grasp when we know the process of decomposition of a body.
What happens to our body After death?
Immediately after death, body temperature gradually decreases until it reaches room temperature. Bacteria begin to multiply, and signs of early rot may appear.
After several days and weeks, anaerobic bacteria grow, breaking down the body’s internal tissues. This results in the release of gasgas putrid, which can cause abdominal distension. The body gradually becomes softer and the skin may slough off. Bodily fluids also begin to drain.
As decomposition continues over the months, the body’s soft tissues are gradually consumed by bacteria and organisms decomposersdecomposers.
At the same time, the body’s remaining fatty tissues are broken down, resulting in the release of fats and oils. At the end of the process, all that remains is the skeleton and some tough tissues, such as hair and nails. The skeleton then continues to decompose, but much more slowly, as available nutrients become scarce.
During decomposition, the insectsinsects play an essential role. The scavengers – worms, larvaelarvae flies and beetlesbeetles – feed on the soft tissues of the body and thus accelerate its fragmentation by eliminating part of the massmass bodily. They transform soft tissues into mattermatter simpler organic. The digestive enzymes of larvae and adult insects help break down proteins, lipidslipids and the carbohydratescarbohydrates. Certain animals such as earthworms dig galleries in the soil around the decomposing body, thus promoting the circulation of theairair and nutrients in the soil. This can facilitate tissue breakdown and nutrient reuse by surrounding plants.
Obviously, the exact times and stages of decomposition can vary depending on temperature, humidity level, the use of preservatives, or even the presence of predators.
Ritual mummification: a complex process to stop time
To prevent this natural phenomenon but, a priori, inevitably, the ancient Egyptians mummified the bodies of the deceased. This, they believed, ensured the continuity of existence after death and maintained the links between the world of the living and the afterlife.
The funerary priests therefore began by removing the internal organs, with the exception of the heart – considered the seat of the soul – and the kidneyskidneys. The organs were placed in canopic jars to be preserved separately. The body was then washed and cleaned with solutions of natron, a mixture of natural salts with desiccating properties. The natron was then applied to the body and placed inside to absorb moisture.
This process could last several weeks, depending on body size and environmental conditions. Once the body was completely dried, it was coated with oils aromaticaromatic and ointments to preserve the skin and mask odors. The priests then wrapped the body in bandagesbandages of linenlinen, wrapping each limb individually. Once the mummification process was completed, the body was placed in a coffin in drinkdrink richly decorated.
It is therefore an understatement to say that the spontaneous mummification which affects the bodies of these Colombian inhabitants is extremely rare. In fact, it is so much so that we cannot identify which elements must be brought together to achieve it. Some locals believe it could be a reward or punishment after death, while others attribute the phenomenon to the healthy diet and active lifestyle of San Bernardo residents.
For their part, researchers have hypothesized that the location of the cemetery, on a mountain slope exposed to the windwind hot, could create oven-like conditions, contributing to dehydrationdehydration bodies and their mummification.
But for now, the phenomenon remains largely unexplained and continues to arouse the interest and perplexity of residents and scientists.
