It is a mystery as to how the mummy of Lady Dai from China was able to maintain such exceptional preservation.

The mummy of Lady Dai is incredibly well-preserved, with supple skin, flexible limbs, and undamaged internal organs. Additionally, her blood is still in liquid form, and her hair and eyelashes remain intact.

The Tomb Of Lady Dai – An Accidental Discovery

During the year 1971, a group of builders began to excavate the slopes of a hill known as Mawangdui, located near the city of Changsha, in Hunan, China. The purpose of their excavation was to construct a large air raid shelter for a hospital in the area. As they delved deeper into the hill, an unexpected discovery was made.

Prior to 1971, the Mawangdui hill was not considered a location of historical significance. However, this perception changed when the workers made an unexpected discovery of what appeared to be a buried tomb beneath layers of soil and rocks.

As a result of this discovery, the construction of the air-raid shelter was halted. A few months later, an international team of archaeologists arrived to investigate the site further.

The tomb was so extensive that the excavation process took almost a year to complete. The archaeologists required assistance from a large number of people, around 1,500 in total, mostly consisting of local high school students who volunteered to help.

Their persistent efforts were rewarded, as they uncovered the grand ancient tomb of Li Chang, who was the Marquis of Dai, and governed the region around 2,200 years ago during the reign of the Han dynasty.

The sepulchre held more than a thousand valuable and unique relics, comprising of golden and silver statues of performers, mourners, and creatures, items of household crafted with great care, jewelry designed with precision, and a comprehensive assemblage of garments made from superior ancient silk.

The most priceless of them all, however, was the discovery of the mummy of Xin Zhui, the wife of Li Chang and the Marquise of Dai. The mummy, now commonly known as Lady Dai, the Diva Mummy, and the Chinese Sleeping Beauty, was found enveloped in multiple layers of silk and encased within four ornate coffins nested within one another.

The outermost coffin was painted black to signify death and the transition of the deceased into the darkness of the underworld. It was also embellished with feathers from different birds as the ancient Chinese believed that the souls of the departed had to grow feathers and wings before attaining immortality in the afterlife.

The Mystery Behind The Mummy Of Lady Dai

The Diva Mummy, also referred to as Xin Zhui, existed during the Han dynasty, which held sway from 206 BCE to 220 AD in China, and was the consort of the Marquis of Dai. After her passing, Xin Zhui was interred in a secluded spot within the Mawangdui hill.

An autopsy revealed that Xin Zhui was overweight, suffered from back pain, high blood pressure, blocked arteries, liver disease, gallstones, diabetes, and had a severely damaged heart which caused her to die of a heart attack at the age of 50. This has led scientists to conclude that she is the earliest known case of heart disease. Xin Zhui lived a life of opulence, which is why she has been dubbed "The Diva Mummy."

Remarkably, forensic archaeologists have determined that Xin Zhui's last meal was a serving of melons. In her tomb, which was buried 40 feet underground, she had a wardrobe containing 100 silk garments, 182 pieces of costly lacquerware, makeup, and toiletries. She also had 162 carved wooden figurines representing servants in her tomb.

According to records, Xin Zhui's body was wrapped in 20 layers of silk, immersed in a mildly acidic unknown liquid that prevented bacteria from growing, and sealed within four coffins. This series of coffins were then packed with 5 tons of charcoal and sealed with clay.

Archaeologists also found traces of mercury in her coffin, indicating that the toxic metal may have been used as an antimicrobial agent. The tomb was made watertight and airtight so bacteria wouldn't be able to survive - but it remains a scientific enigma as to how the body was preserved so well.

There are many unresolved queries and despite the Egyptians being the most renowned for their mummies, the Chinese were arguably the most successful at it.

The ancient Chinese method of preservation was not as invasive as that of the Egyptians, who removed many of the internal organs from their deceased for separate preservation. For the time being, Xin Zhui's remarkable preservation remains a mystery.

Final Words

Without question, Lady Dai lived a luxurious life, and little is known about her personal life due to the secrecy that existed in ancient Chinese cultures. Though it is believed that she died while eating melon, she was likely unaware that her death was imminent and that scientists would be studying her stomach 2,000 years later.

To this day, researchers are still amazed at how a body from such an ancient time can be so well-preserved. Today, the mummy of Lady Dai and many of the artifacts recovered from her tomb can be viewed at the Hunan Provincial Museum.