Discovered by accident in 1972, the Qilakitsoq mummies of Greenland were initially believed to have died just recently — because their skin, fingernails, and hair were still intact.
Discovered by accident in 1972, the Qilakitsoq mummies of Greenland were initially believed to have died just recently — because their skin, fingernails, and hair were still intact.
The two brothers who had stumbled upon them could even see their tattoos. But much to experts' surprise, these disturbingly well-preserved corpses were later revealed to be a whopping 500 years old.
Though many people think of mummies as elites who were intentionally preserved by their subjects, the Qilakitsoq people were probably humble farmers.
Named for the abandoned Inuit settlement they came from, their preservation was also likely an accident.
Due to the subzero temperatures where they were buried, they were so intact that their organs could be studied by scientists — and their grave offered a remarkable glimpse into the country's Indigenous past.
Discover more of the most remarkable mummies from around the world: https://bit.ly/3rX7kzN
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