The Artistic Nature of the Chinchorro Mummies and the Archaeology of Grief

Chinchorro mummies, created around 7000 years ago by a hunter-gatherer society in the Atacama Desert, represent one of the earliest and most elaborate forms of artificial mummification. This study reveals that these mummies were not merely preservative practices but intentional artistic expressions, reflecting emotional awareness and grief processing within ancient communities. By analyzing mortuary rituals through an art therapy model, researchers interpret them as multifaceted social and emotional processes. The use of pigments like manganese, while symbolically meaningful, posed health risks that may have contributed to the decline of these elaborate funerary practices. Additionally, the study highlights the enduring cultural significance of Chinchorro society in shaping contemporary identity, particularly in the Arica region.

Arriaza, B. (2025). The Artistic Nature of the Chinchorro Mummies and the Archaeology of Grief. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 36(1), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1017/s095977432510022x