Uncovering the Ancient Mysteries of Venice: Unearthing 10,000-Year-Old Mummies

The Black Death devastated the town of Vezope in the 14th century. Many people died but there were not enough cemeteries to buy all the bodies.

The villagers put the 42 corpses that could not be buried in the cemetery into a coffin and stored them in the basement of St. Michael’s chapel. When they opened the coffin, the DEAD bodies were mummified. People believed that it was God’s will to send their ancestors to them alive to protect the village. The mummies were treated very well as the village elders, and this tradition lasted until 1950. American photographer Jack Birps took photographs of the villagers’ daily life with the mummies and published them in Time magazine.

The photos of Vezope mummies became a worldwide phenomenon. However, a mummy needs to have all the organs removed from the body and undergo embalming treatment to prevent desiccation. Mυmmies of Vezope, 14th-19th century, preserved crypt of the Chapel of St. Michael, Vezope, Friυli-Veпezia Giυlia, Italy, ca. 1910; (add.iпfo.: Mυmmies of Vezope, 14th-19th century, preserved in the crypt of the Chapel of St. Michael, Vezope, Friυli-Veпezia Giυlia, Italy, ca. 1910.); Iпasa Photo Library/NPL-DEA Photo Library

Please note: This photograph requires additional permission before use. If you wish to reproduce this image, please contact Bridgemaп Images and we will process the permission request on your behalf. Following the 1976 earthquake, only 15 mummies have been saved. They are currently kept in the Crypt of the Cemetery Chapel.