In the past few decades, there have been many efforts to re-patriate archeological artifacts that were wrongly stolen by western powers from indigenous peoples across the world. These efforts are particularly important when such artifacts hold important cultural value to these groups. The Chuquicamata mummy, or “El Hombre Cobre”, is a particularly strong example of such an artifact.

This mummy is roughly 1500 years old, as measured by radiocarbon dating. At the time of his demise, he was mining for ores of Atacamite; this is a copper mineral that often co-occurs with Herbertsmithite, both of which have novel quantum properties. It is likely that he was going to take this to Calama or Chiu Chiu to be smelted, but it’s worth noting that these crystals were also used as sacred offerings during this time-period as well.

He died during a mine collapse, which caused his body to be pressed against a copper deposit. This copper slowly leeched into his body, preserving him and turning him green. El Hombre Cobre remained there, in place and unperturbed until 1899 when he was rediscovered by western mining companies.

After much fighting, this mine’s owner was successfully able to argue that this mummy was legally an “ore” since their body was over 1% copper by composition at this point. He was sold and re-sold several times after this. One purchaser eventually removed the mummy from the Atacama and presented him at infamously colonial Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. He proved to be rather popular here, drawing in huge crowds, which even broke his display case at one point. He continued to move around on display in the US after this. The mummy was eventually bought by J. P. Morgan in 1905 due to his fame. Morgan then donated him to the Museum of Natural History in New York where he remains on display to this day. (source: https://www.mnhn.gob.cl/noticias/de-calama-nueva-york-las-desventuras-del-hombre-de-cobre)

I am calling for this person to be repatriated to the Atacama for several reasons. The first is that he represents a significant cultural artifact to the indigenous Atacamenian people. Archeological evidence suggests that the people of the Atacama have been mining copper and other ores for about 2700 years (https://www.nature.com/articles/srep41855). The majority of Atacamenian people still work in mining to this day. This mummy is a rather significant historical and cultural symbol of the Atacamenian’s long relationship with mining and copper. We might also be able to recover more details about historical Atacamenian mining from further investigation of this mummy, given that he was found with Atacamite. But this should happen in Chile as directed by Atacamenian scholars.

The second reason for repatriation is that the Atacamenian people hold particularly high reverence for their deceased. There are many well-visited cemeteries throughout the Atacama. It is common practice for people to visit these grave sites to give offerings to the spirits of these deceased. Many towns in the Atacama contain “necropolises”, or cities of the dead. Here, many families have built gorgeous, enclosed houses surrounding the grave sites of loved ones, adorned with objects and photos significant to the memory of this person’s life. This provides a space for people to hold communion with their deceased friends. These necropolises are especially busy during festivals like the day of the dead, wherein much food and drink is shared the spirits of loved ones. Given the Atacamenians strong connection with and special care for their ancestors, I think it is of the upmost importance that this mummy be repatriated. Furthermore, many Atacamenians, including the elected president of San Francisco de Chiu Chiu, Guillermo Romero, believe that restless spirits like this mummy are bad omens. They vow to give this person a more proper resting space if he were to be repatriated.

The final reason that I believe this mummy should be repatriated is that he is the ultimate symbol of American colonialism. He lives in New York City, the capitalist’s capital of the world, where entire mines worth of copper futures are traded and negotiated only a few blocks away. Infamously, the US also has historically had a heavy-handed role in Chilean politics; the CIA was involved in the removal of their democratically elected leader Salvador Allende in one of the most consequential coups of the cold war era. That this mummy lives in the US the ultimate symbol of our colonial arrogance. He reminds us that the US still thinks that it owns Chile, its government, its copper, and its miners, especially given the arcane legal pretenses on which he was first brought here. Repatriating this mummy would be a powerful symbol to start reversing this legacy.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Dr. Aaron Thomas Breidenbach