Kabayan Mummies
Alternative name | Benguet Mummy Caves, Ibaloi Mummy Caves |
---|---|
Location | Kabayan, Benguet, Philippines |
Coordinates | 16°33′N 120°45′E / 16.550°N 120.750°E |
Type | Burial Cave |
Management | National Museum of the Philippines |
The Fire Mummies of the
Description
Scientists believe that the Fire Mummies were created by the
Discovery
When the Fire Mummies were uncovered in the early 20th century by Westerners (the mummies have been known to local communities for hundreds of years), many of them were stolen by white people, because the caves were mostly unprotected. Because of this, Monument Watch, a nonprofit organization, declared the site as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.[4]
Today
After logging operations intensified in the area, the location of many caves became known. Unfortunately, this has led to looting, as unconscientious visitors have been eager to leave their mark, including graffiti, on the Kabayan mummies. The Kabayan Mummies were listed in the 1998 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. Funding through American Express was used for emergency conservation and the creation of a comprehensive management plan. Additionally, local authorities from surrounding municipalities collaborated in cultural awareness campaign to introduce the Mummies to Filipinos. Tourist facilities were also constructed in order to control visitation and prevent harmful intrusions.[5]
The Fire Mummies remain in natural caves with relatively small security and have been designated as one of the 100 world's most endangered heritage sites. Officials know 50-80 other mummies, but they will not give their locations because of their fear of vandalism. A small museum in Kabayan also displays a few mummies.[2]
Declarations
The Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves are listed as National Cultural Treasures by the
See also
- List of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
- List of World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia
- List of World Heritage Sites
References
- ^ a b "Kabayan Mummies". Mummy Tombs. When were they made. Archived from the original on 28 October 2000. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ a b Dylan; Treeswithknees; Nicholas Jackson. "Fire Mummies of the Philippines". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
- ^ Paperdue (November 2010). "Fire Mummies of the Philippines". PaperDue.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ "Kabayan Mummy Caves". World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 1 August 1973. Archived from the originalon September 17, 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
Further reading
- Carascal, Mark B.; Fontanilla, Ian Kendrich C.; De Ungria, Maria Corazon A. (2021). "The Ibaloi fire mummies: the art and science of mummification in the Philippines". Anthropological Science. 129 (2): 197–202. .
- Amery, Colin; Curran, Brian; Abrams, Harry (1 November 2001). Vanishing Histories. Book News, Inc. p. 107. ISBN 9780810914353.
- Ang, Walter. "The Mummy - that Brendan Fraser didn't see". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. E4.