Scientists believe these mummies were first created sometime by the Ibaloi tribe between 1200 and 1500 CE. What makes these mummies unique is the process by which they were made. Mummification began shortly before a person died, where they would ingest a very salty drink. After death, the body was washed and set over a fire in a seated position, thus drying the fluids. Tobacco smoke was blown into the mouth to dry the inside of the body and internal organs. Finally, herbs were rubbed on the body. It's estimated that the entire process could take weeks, sometimes months, to finish. They were then buried in the caves. The practice died out in the 1500s when Spain colonized the Philippines.
Atlas Obscura
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