Mummy Trade Raises Health Risks, Study Warns
A review of 128 online mummy-related posts found body parts, mold concerns and unregulated shipping across social media and auction sites.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Paranormal
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Researchers analyzed 128 mummy-related sale posts on Meta, Instagram, and online auction sites made between 2015 and 2025, published in the International Journal of Cultural Property. They urged stronger regulation of the online mummy trade.
Why it matters
The analysis suggests the trade may pose biological risks beyond heritage damage, since mummies can retain microorganisms for centuries and mold growth was suspected in some items. Researchers say the trade could escalate into a public health concern.
The analysis covered 128 posts from 2015 to 2025, with 122 involving human mummies and 6 involving animal mummies. Thirteen cases showed suspected mold growth, and some sellers posted photos of handling remains without gloves or masks.
The players
Staffordshire University
A UK university whose researcher contributed to the analysis of the online mummy trade.
International Journal of Cultural Property
An academic journal that published the analysis of mummy-related online sale posts.
The details
Severed body parts were the most common item offered, and some posts advertised entire mummies. Mummy remains sold in the UK were shipped by regular mail to buyers in the US. Historical mummy preservation used toxic substances such as arsenic, mercury, and lead.
Timeline
1923: Lord Carnarvon died, with fungal infection cited as a potential factor.
1973: Investigators opened the tomb of King Casimir IV of Poland.
2015 to 2025: Period covered by the analysis of mummy-related posts.
November 2, 2026: The study was published.
Culture Shift
The study revisits the 1923 death of Lord Carnarvon, which fueled decades of curse folklore, and reframes it through documented fungal risks. It shifts attention from supernatural explanations toward real biological hazards tied to the modern trade in ancient remains.
Buyers considering ancient human or animal remains should be aware that items may carry microorganisms or mold. Researchers note that such remains are shipped by regular mail across borders, so purchasers should verify provenance and handling before acquiring any mummified item.
The takeaway
The study suggests that curiosity about mummies carries real biological risk, and that handling or buying such remains without safeguards can expose people to fungal spores. Treating ancient remains as artifacts rather than collectibles may reduce those hazards.
Further reading
Explore more Paranormal stories on how ancient artifacts and legends continue to shape modern culture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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