A growing online trade in mummified human remains may expose buyers and the wider logistics industry to biological and chemical hazards, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the International Journal of Cultural Property and online by Cambridge University Press.
The research examined 128 posts and listings across Meta platforms, e-commerce sites, web stores and auction houses. It found that isolated hands and feet were frequently offered, followed by whole mummified heads. Heads in some form—including complete or partial heads, skulls or crania retaining soft tissue or hair, and tsantsas—made up 51.6% of the sample.
The researchers reported numerous examples showing clear signs of biodeterioration. They also found that sellers generally supplied no safety guidance, while postal and courier services were often used to move the remains to buyers. The authors describe the trade as “semi-clandestine, often illicit” and say its expansion through digital platforms has increased exposure to potential risks.
Mummification, whether natural or deliberate, slows decomposition through physical and chemical processes. The materials used over time have included toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead. The remains may also retain dormant microorganisms after centuries of drying. Fungal spores can become airborne when deteriorated material is moved or disturbed, creating a possible inhalation hazard.
The paper notes earlier cases associated with exposure to mummified remains. It states that inhaled Aspergillus spores were blamed for the deaths of 10 of 12 conservation scientists who opened the tomb of King Casimir IV of Kraków in the 1970s. It also says severe aspergillosis may have contributed to the 1923 death of Lord Carnarvon, who funded the exploration of Tutankhamun’s tomb, although that case has been cited in connection with the later “mummy’s curse” myth.
Kirsty Squires, a professor of human bioarchaeology at the University of Staffordshire, conducted the research with Dario Piombino-Mascali, Clara Urzì and Damien Huffer. Squires said some sellers mentioned a “mummy smell,” which may indicate biodeterioration, while photographs showed remains displayed in domestic settings without protective cases or suitable environmental controls.
The researchers warn that the risks may extend beyond traders and collectors. Warehouse employees, drivers, transport-hub staff and customs officials could also encounter the remains without the personal protective equipment needed for initial handling.
