You've probably heard or read on our website about the famous city mummy museum in Guanajuato, Mexico. But if you come from the Caribbean coast of the state and love horror stories, visit the Museum of Mummies in the state of Yucatan. By the way, it is located very close to the archaeological zone of Uxmal. The museum receives thousands of visitors each year, most of whom come during the Day of the Dead celebrations. In addition to mummies, the museum allows you to see various ancient objects, details of archaeological excavations and copies of Mayan figures. The entrance fee is only 5 pesos, or a quarter of a dollar.
The Mummies Museum is located next to the church parish of the municipality of Santa Elena. And the main attraction is the Mayan tomb, located in one of the halls of the museum, where you can see the skull and various Mayan funerary objects around it.
Another «in demand» museum exhibits — four child mummies that were found many years ago when renovation work was being carried out in the parish.
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The very first mummies in Santa Elena were found in 1980 during the restoration of the Church of San Mateo. During these works, 12 small coffins were discovered. This news aroused great anticipation among local residents, and even the local newspaper published the headline "Gnomes of Santa Elena."
After analyzing the remains, a conclusion was made. The bodies did not belong to dwarfs, but to children, who for some reason had not undergone the process of decomposition of the soft parts of the body and were in a state of mummification.
Of the 12 coffins, three were taken to the forensic department of the city of Merida. Of the remaining nine, they decided to put only four on display; the remaining five remained in the baptistery and were again buried under the floor of the church mosaic. Unfortunately, due to ignorance and superstition, most of the coffins found were burned.
The four mummies with coffins found were preserved and, after examination, packed in a high vacuum. Now they are the most famous exhibits of the Santa Elena Mummies Museum.
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