Lady Dai - the oldest surviving mummy
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The mummy Lady Dai (Xin Juy) is considered the most ancient and preserved mummy. Externally, it looks puffy, and the skin is wrinkled and deformed, but at the same time it has kept softness, and the limbs are still mobile. In addition, no organs were removed from the body, and there is blood in the vessels.
Lady Dai’s mummy was uncovered 2100 years after burial. Scientists managed to find out how this woman lived, why she died and even determined her blood type. The most complete medical profile that was ever made for mummies was compiled from it.
Lady Dai Xin-Zhui belonged to the aristocratic dynasty of Han Li Qan. In her tomb there were many luxuries that only very rich people could afford. Next to her, they found silk outfits, spices, musical instruments, flowers, and even cosmetics.
Supposedly, she died around 50 years of age due to a heart attack. Scientists managed to find out even the fact that before she died she ate a melon. Some people found it amusing that next to the mummy there were numerous books on longevity and health, as well as tablets with recipes of tinctures and poultices for various diseases.
The tomb of Lady Dai was opened in 1971 near the city of Changshi, China. The woman’s body was wrapped in 20 layers of silk and buried in four coffins nested in each other.
The chambers were covered with coal and sealed with clay, which allowed the body to remain in such good condition, since the burial was airtight. Traces of mercury were found in the coffin, which indicates that the body and the tomb were tried to be disinfected.
