Mummified Bird

This mummified parrot still has some of its brightly colored plumage—even though it’s been dead for about 900 years! At least six species of birds were discovered preserved, buried with the remains of humans in archaeological sites throughout the Atacama Desert in Chile.

Scientists believe the animals were symbols of wealth and power. Some of the parrot species found are native to the Amazon rainforest—about 480 kilometers (300 miles) away from the Atacama Desert. Scientists think ancient people transported the animals across the Andes Mountains, keeping the birds alive during a lengthy journey over the difficult terrain. Their owners kept the birds as exotic pets, periodically plucking their vibrant feathers to decorate headdresses and hats. After the birds died, they were mummified to prevent their bodies from decomposing, or breaking down.

The first step in the preservation process was to pluck out many of the bird’s feathers, which were as valuable as gold. Then the bird’s insides were extracted through its cloaca—an opening through which birds expel eggs and poop. “Taking out the guts helped to remove moisture, which slowed down initial decomposition,” explains José M. Capriles, an anthropologist at Pennsylvania State University. “The guts also contained bacteria. If they were left in the body, the entire corpse would rapidly spoil.”

Finally, the bird was wrapped in cloth and buried. Many of the parrots were mummified with their mouths open and tongues out, like they were squawking. Others had their wings spread as if in flight. The dry desert conditions helped preserve the bodies in these poses for centuries.