NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — A man’s corpse has been found completely mummified in Bulgaria, just 16 days after he was last seen alive.
This incredibly rare occurrence has left scientists baffled because the corpse has reached an advanced stage of mummification in an unusually short time. The case, detailed in a new report published in the journal Cureus , has aroused the interest and curiosity of experts around the world.
The body was found on September 3 near the railway line in Sofia, and, as it turned out later, belonged to a 34-year-old man who suffered from alcoholism and was considered missing since August 16. The report’s authors describe the mummified corpse as a mummy with shriveled organs, the brain, intestines and other internal organs reduced to a “structureless mass.” The surface of the skin was light to dark brown in color and became hard and leathery.
It is known that natural mummification is a long process, usually taking from several weeks to 6-12 months. It usually occurs in conditions of extreme heat and dryness, where the temperature does not fall below 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity does not exceed 50%. The conservation process also requires solar radiation of about 600 watts per square meter (56 watts per square foot) and wind speeds of about 32 km/h.
However, weather conditions in Sofia during the 16 days between the man’s death and the discovery of his mummified body did not meet the requirements for natural mummification. Temperatures ranged from 16 to 33 degrees Celsius, outside the required range. Relative humidity was 52%, and average solar radiation was only 257.9 W per square meter. The wind speed was also well below the threshold required for mummification.
Experts remain baffled how the human body became so dry and leathery in a place where conditions were not conducive to natural mummification. The researchers suggest that passing trains could create a wind environment that promotes the evaporation of fluid from the body. However, further research is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.
This unusual case attracted the attention of scientists and researchers around the world. Dr John Silverstone, a forensic pathologist, said: “The rapid mummification of this man is inconsistent with our current understanding of the process. This is an interesting and puzzling case which highlights the need for further research in this area.”
Historically, mummification was practiced by various civilizations around the world, such as the ancient Egyptians. The preservation of bodies was often associated with religious beliefs and rituals aimed at ensuring the afterlife of the deceased. Although deliberate mummification is well documented, spontaneous cases like this remain rare and continue to intrigue experts.
By continuing to investigate this mysterious case, scientists hope to gain new information about the mummification process and shed light on the circumstances surrounding this unusual incident in Bulgaria.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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