MEXICO CITY. Mexico’s federal archaeology agency, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), has accused the city of Guanajuato of mishandling one of the country’s famous 19th-century mummies, resulting in the detachment of the mummy’s arm. This incident occurred during recent renovations at the museum where the mummified bodies are permanently displayed.
The mummies, exhumed from burial sites starting in the 1860s due to unpaid burial fees, have been a significant, albeit macabre, tourist attraction in Guanajuato. They have been displayed in glass cases in the local museum and have even been exhibited internationally, including in the United States in 2009.
At the heart of the latest controversy is a jurisdictional dispute between INAH, which claims the mummies as “national patrimony,” and the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato, which treats them as a key tourist attraction. The city and state of Guanajuato are governed by the National Action Party, while the federal government is controlled by the Morena party, leading to political friction.
INAH announced on Monday that it would investigate the museum’s renovation procedures and demanded accountability. “These events confirm that the way the museum’s collection was moved is not the correct one, and that far from applying proper corrective and conservation strategies, the actions carried out resulted in damages, not only to this body,” the institute stated.
The institute criticized the lack of proper protocols and training among the personnel responsible for the renovations, attributing the mishandling to a deficiency in knowledge. The Guanajuato city government has yet to respond to these allegations.
The mummies of Guanajuato were naturally preserved due to the dry, mineral-rich soil where they were buried. Some mummies still have hair, leathery skin, and their original clothing. In 2023, INAH experts warned that a traveling display of the mummies might pose health risks due to potential fungal growths on one of the bodies.
This is not the first time that a part of a long-dead figure has caused national controversy. In 1989, the Mexican government faced criticism after it removed and incinerated the arm of revolutionary General Álvaro Obregón, which had been displayed in formaldehyde for decades. Similarly, in 1838, an angry crowd destroyed the leg of President Antonio López de Santa Anna, accusing him of treason.
The mishandling of the Guanajuato mummy highlights the ongoing conflict over the preservation and control of Mexico’s historical artifacts. As INAH seeks to ensure proper conservation practices, the jurisdictional dispute over these mummies remains unresolved.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
