Story perspectives

Rare 'Green Mummy' Discovery Challenges Archaeological Beliefs

11/7/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In Narzole, Italy, scientists recovered the nearly complete mummified remains of a teenage boy in a copper coffin dating 1617–1834.
It is the first full-body example of 'green mummy' preservation, in which copper's antimicrobial properties inhibited decomposition.
Researchers say copper, bodily fluids, and the burial environment induced systemic changes that produced a green coloration.
The finding challenges traditional views on metal preservation and prompts reevaluation of past archaeological interpretations.

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Story summary

In Narzole, Italy, scientists recovered the nearly complete mummified remains of a teenage boy in a copper coffin dating 1617–1834.
It is the first full-body example of 'green mummy' preservation, in which copper's antimicrobial properties inhibited decomposition.
Researchers say copper, bodily fluids, and the burial environment induced systemic changes that produced a green coloration.
The finding challenges traditional views on metal preservation and prompts reevaluation of past archaeological interpretations.