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Image Credit: Rodrigo Neira93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Study Estimates Manganese Used in Ancient Chinchorro Mummification
A new archaeological study has produced the first quantitative estimate of how much manganese was used to prepare a Black-style Chinchorro mummy in northern Chile. The Chinchorro tradition, known for some of the world’s earliest artificial mummification practices, flourished along the coast of the Atacama Desert between about 5000 and 1000 BC.
Black-style Chinchorro mummies were covered with a dark coating rich in manganese. Previous research has examined where this mineral may have come from and how it was used, but the amount needed to prepare a single body had not been calculated before.
To address this question, researchers studied a nearly complete adult male mummy from the Morro 1 site in Arica, Chile. They used geometric body modelling to estimate the surface area and volume of the manganese coating. Small fragments from another individual were also analyzed to measure coating thickness, density, and mineral composition.
The study found that the facial coating was thicker and more compact than the coating on the trunk. The facial mask measured about 2.5 mm thick, while the trunk coating averaged about 1.05 mm. This difference suggests that the face may have held particular technical and symbolic importance in Chinchorro mortuary preparation.
Based on the model, the total mass of coating required for the adult male mummy was estimated at about 1.7 to 2.5 kg. When the actual manganese concentration was included, the amount of manganese mineral needed was estimated at about 1.4 kg.
The results suggest that preparing a single Black-style mummy required sustained access to mineral sources, as well as transport, processing, and careful application. Even if manganese was locally available, the amount involved points to organized labor and specialized knowledge beyond daily subsistence activities.
The study also raises questions about the health effects of working with manganese-rich materials, since manganese is toxic with prolonged exposure. By quantifying the material used in mummification, the research provides a new way to understand the technological, social, and environmental dimensions of Chinchorro mortuary practices.
Published on: 28-05-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
