KNOWN BY A VARIETY OF names such as the Kabayan Mummies, Ibaloi Mummies or Benguet Mummies, the Fire Mummies of the Philippines remain an elusive bunch
Mummification is a practice that has existed since ancient times. The Egyptians mummies – their heavily bandaged and embalmed corpses- were amongst the most popular. However, in the Philippines a different type of mummy has recently come to light – the fire mummies.
These carefully preserved bodies of ancient people gave researchers new insight into a unique mummification method and the unique tribal culture that prepared them.
After the discovery of the caves housing the fire mummies in the early 20th century, they were left generally unprotected at first and the mummies inside fall into the hands of plunderers. This has caused the Filipino government to become secretive about their location.
The fire mummy caves are now considered one of the most endangered sites in the world.
Ibalois People
In the isolated mountain of the northern Philippines, there lived the people of Kabayan, also termed as the Ibaloi. They are hardworking and friendly and their land contains mostly of terraced rice field. Everything else were all normal except for their unique ancient tradition. On Mt. Timbac, lie hundreds of their earliest ancestors’ smoked bodies dating way back 1200 A.D.
Secret Location
The fire mummies are difficult to find because the Filipino and the locals worked really hard to protect their locations. It will take about five hours’ car ride up to the mountains of Kabayan, then another hike up for 5 hours in a dizzying stone steps. The entrance of the caves was secured with fences cover. This was where the mummies lie, preserved perfectly in their original coffins since the time of their death.
