The mummy was buried in a crypt under dry, mineral-rich soil in Guanajuato, Mexico, acting as a catalyst to help preserve the intact remains. The Guanajuato mummies were dug up in the 1860s because the families of the dead could not pay for burial and subsequent display. This is one of the most visited attractions in the region. The mushroom-grown mummy is among dozens of remains displayed in glass cases at a tourist fair in Mexico City. The Mexican Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said they were not consulted about the display decision, Ancient Origins reported on April 1.

“It’s disturbing that the mummy is still on display without safety measures in place to protect the public from biological risks. From the photos, at least one mummy shows signs of fungus growth. This mummy needs to be studied.” Look carefully to see if it is a sign of threat or not,” INAH said. However, the institute’s experts did not specify the type of fungus growing on the mummy.

The Museo de las Momias in Guanajuato opened in 1969 to house mummies. The remains were arranged in different areas based on age, gender and cause of death. Some mummies even have lifelike poses, for example a mother holding her child. The museum has taken many measures to ensure the mummy is treated with respect and visitors must comply with a number of regulations when visiting.

Natural mummification is the process by which the skin and internal organs of a human or animal are preserved without the use of human chemicals. This is a rare process that only occurs in special cases such as extremely cold climates, arid conditions or lack of oxygen. Naturally preserved mummies may lie in the desert, buried in anaerobic peat bogs or frozen on glaciers.