The director of the Yemeni Authority for Antiquities and Museums in Hadhramaut, southeastern Yemen, announced today, Monday, that three ancient mummies have been discovered east of Hadhramaut by Riyad Bakrmoom, marking the first archaeological discovery of its kind in this oil-rich province. Bakrmoom confirmed that the discovered mummies are in good condition and will be studied to learn more about their history and the mummification techniques used.
Ancient Yemenis used raisins, camel fat, some plant leaves, resins, gum arabic, salt, and tar in the mummification process. Most mummies found in Yemen, which is rich in heritage and archaeological sites, were wrapped in linen inside leather bags, with some positioned in a squatting posture, located in rock tombs in rugged mountainous areas.
Previously, mummies had been found in regions such as Sana'a, Al-Mahwit, Dhamar, Al-Jawf, and Shibam, with one of the most notable finds being a mummy discovered in 1986 that dates back approximately 3200 years, or 1200 BC. This mummy is currently preserved in the Archaeological Section of Sana'a University.
Yemenis practiced mummification to fulfill the requirements of some ancient Yemeni rituals, but they ceased this practice with the advent of Islam. Since the outbreak of war nine years ago, Yemeni artifacts and manuscripts have faced devastation, looting, vandalism, and smuggling abroad.
