Imagine you're a construction worker just going about your business one day and you stumble upon this:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science-mummies
-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-body_33098_600x450.jpg
This was a very real scenario when road-builders near Taizhou in China recently discovered a 600 year old “wet mummy” (her coffin was flooded). I didn’t know this was possible, but apparently when water is devoid of oxygen it inhibits the bacteria that would usually break down the body tissue. Since it is generally quite rare in China to mummify people, it’s been proposed that this was an accidental mummification. She had some fairly impressive grave goods which were also well preserved, including a a silver hair pin (her hairstyle was still intact), an exorcism coin and sizeable jade ring, which I find odd... Jade is a sign of wealth in China, which begs the question as to why she was found alone in a fairly remote area.
The jade ring
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science
-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-ring_33103_600x450.jpg
It's hard to see the pin, but you can tell how well preserved her hair is
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science
-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-hairfound_33104_600x450.jpg
The exorcism coin-said to ward off malevolent influences (wouldn't mind one of these also...)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science
-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-medallion_33102_600x450.jpg
It will be interesting to see if they discover anything else around the site, and along with the roadbuilding whether they halt construction to survey the area.
They are currently looking for any scrolls or pottery that were common grave goods during the estimated time she was buried, which were used as to preserve her written biography-I think this practice should make a comeback!
I found this article on the National Geographic Daily News site, which has some other awesome articles http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ and I'll definitely be checking for an update on this find.
