Mummification is the natural or artificial preservation of the soft tissue of a dead body. Natural mummification can happen in extremely cold, dry, or anaerobic conditions. Perhaps the most famous example of a natural mummy preserved in ice is Ötzi, the Iceman. Dry, desert conditions are responsible for the Tarim mummies, for example, and lack of oxygen prevented bog bodies from decaying.
Intentional mummification is mostly associated with ancient Egyptian burial rites, but it was also common practice in the Andean cultures of South America, such as the Nazca civilization. Depending on the culture and the technique, the process can involve the removal of internal organs, dismemberment, heat treatment, the use of chemicals, and wrapping the body. The intentional preservation of some individuals extends into the modern age, with Lenin's embalmed body put on permanent display in Moscow.
In this gallery, we feature 20 images of preserved bodies from all around the world.
