In roughly two weeks, a
Bulgarian man’s body turned into a complete mummy leaving researchers with more
questions than answers.
In an incredibly rare
incident, a 34-year-old man’s body was found in a “stage of complete
mummification” just 16 days after he was last seen alive.
The unidentified man
was still wearing the same clothes he had on August 18, 2023, the day he was
last spotted alive. His body was discovered on September 3 near a railway line
in Sofia.
After examining the
remains, scientists determined that the man’s brain and internal organs had
become “structureless masses” in a rapid process that also turned the flesh
into “dried, brownish-black masses.”
Further examination
showed that the decedent’s fat issues had completely vanished and the liquid in
his body had evaporated.
Toxicology results
excluded drugs’ involvement but the man was known for his alcohol addiction,
which may have a role in his speedy mummification.
“Many factors could
affect the mummification process, but the most important ones are dry air, good
ventilation, solar radiation, and high temperatures,” the experts wrote in
their report.
“Depending on the
conditions, the time for complete mummification of the human body could vary
widely. Still, this process usually takes several weeks to months.”
However, during the
16-day phase that the man’s mummification occurred, temperatures barely reached
91 degrees Fahrenheit and the average humidity exceeded 50% which are not
optimal conditions for a rapid mummification.
The experts eventually
suggested that the body’s emplacement near a railway line could have exposed it
to “windy conditions” inducing the mummification.