Black Market for Mummies Poses Health Risks

An emerging online black market dealing in mummified human remains presents significant health hazards, according to new research. A study tracked 128 listings for mummified body parts, including heads and limbs, across various social media and e-commerce platforms between 2015 and 2025. Some listings fetched substantial prices, with one ancient Egyptian mummy head selling for $115,000 in 2015.

The trade frequently uses coded language to bypass platform restrictions, exploiting postal and courier services for global transit. Researchers highlight that these displaced ancestral remains can be a biological threat. Dormant pathogens, like Aspergillus spores, can survive for centuries and reanimate if exposed to fluctuating moisture levels during shipping.

These online offerings are often not pristine museum pieces. Instead, they can be covered in microbial growths and fungal blooms. This poses a risk to postal workers, couriers, and unsuspecting buyers who may handle the items during transit or upon arrival.