The discovery of smoked mummies defying decay in harsh environments would indeed be fascinating. Preserving human or animal remains through smoking is not unheard of; it’s a technique that has been used by various cultures throughout history for both practical and ritualistic purposes.

One of the most well-known examples of smoked mummies comes from the Chinchorro culture, which inhabited the coastal regions of modern-day Chile and Peru around 7000 to 1500 BCE. The Chinchorro people mummified their dead through a complex process that involved removing internal organs, reinforcing the skeleton with sticks, and then smoking the body over an open fire. This process resulted in remarkably preserved mummies, some of which are among the oldest in the world.

Similarly, other cultures such as the ancient Egyptians also employed smoking and other preservation techniques to mummify their dead, albeit using different methods.

The preservation of smoked mummies in harsh environments could be due to the drying effect of smoking, which removes moisture from the body and creates a barrier against bacteria and decomposition. Additionally, the chemicals produced during the smoking process might have antibacterial properties that further inhibit decay.

Studying these smoked mummies could provide valuable insights into ancient burial practices, as well as the environmental conditions and cultural beliefs of the societies that created them. Furthermore, it could offer clues about the techniques used for preservation and the materials available to these ancient peoples.