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| Figure 1: Ibaloi mummies |
As we close out the year and enter into the next it is
traditional in many cultures to look back onto the past and remember what has
come to pass. It seems appropriate to
discuss the topic of the Ibaloi mummies (Figure 1), which were created throughout
the mid-20th century. The
Ibaloi mummies are one of several different types of mummies that exist around
the world, but very few people are aware of their existence and importance among
Philippine groups. This blog post will
explore these topics by providing you with information concerning their
creation and current status.
The Ibaloi mummies derive their name from the Ibaloi tribe
that created them between 1200-1500 AD.
The Ibaloi still exist today, although they no longer practice this
mortuary practice as it was abolished as the Spanish colonized the Philippines,
but these mummies still hold a great deal of importance to the group today. These mummies are also sometimes referred to
by other names, including the Kabayan mummies (after the town where they were
found), the Benguet mummies (after the province where they were found), and the
Fire mummies (after the process of their creation).
These mummies, which are anthropogenic, or man-made,
mummies, are unique in several respects.
As the environment where they were found is in no way conducive to spontaneous
mummification the Ibaloi had to be creative and ingenious in their creation. The process of mummification actually began
prior to death. A dying individual would
drink large quantities of highly concentrated salt water for the purposes of
hastening the drying out process of their body, a practice that probably also
hastened their death since salt water would have caused dehydration. After death the embalmers would seat the deceased
individual over a hot fire for the purposes of drying out the body. They would also blow tobacco smoke into the
mouth of the deceased as a means of drying out the inside of the body. This could take anywhere from several weeks
to months. Upon completion of the drying
process the body would be put into the fetal position, placed in a pinewood
coffin, and laid to rest in a man-made made cave. As this practice began to recede due to
Spanish influence the practice of digging out a cave was abandoned and the deceased
individual were laid to rest in naturally occurring rock shelters or caves. Scholars
estimate that there are approximately 200 man made caves in the area, but only
15 actually house Ibaloi mummies today.
While the practice of mummifying the dead discontinued the
importance of these mummies remains. The
local Ibaloi hold their ancestral dead, who were once esteemed leaders, in high
regard and actively work with local scholars in preserving them and protecting
them from theft and vandalism. Fungal
and insect infestations have been partially responsible for the destruction of
several mummies, but theft has been a larger factor in their demise. The Ibaloi see the loss of these mummies as a
bad omen and attribute this to unfortunate events, such as droughts, crop
failures, and earthquakes. The Philippine
government has passed several laws to protect these mummies, and the caves that
house them are designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
References
MRREESE. 2015. “Fire Mummies – The Smoked Human Remains of
the Kabayan Caves.” Ancient Origins.net
No Author. No
Date. “Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves.” UNESCO.
No Author. 2013. “Ibaloi Mummy.” Archaeology Magazine.
No Author. 2017. “Kabayan Mummy Caves.” World Monuments Fund.
