Mummified heads, hands and other human remains have been advertised on social media, e-commerce sites and auction platforms, according to a study led by bioarchaeologist Kirsty Squires of Staffordshire University. The research, titled “The Real Mummy’s Curse” and published in the International Journal of Cultural Property, recorded 128 listings between 2015 and 2025.
Of those records, 122 concerned human remains and six involved animals. Researchers found 66 listings for heads in varying states of preservation, while only one showed a complete human body. One head advertised in the United States as an ancient Egyptian mummy reportedly reached a price of $115,000 about a decade ago.
The study’s most immediate concern is not a supernatural curse but possible exposure to biological and chemical hazards. Researchers identified 13 Facebook posts showing what appeared to be fungal growth on remains. They did not carry out microbiological tests, however, so the presence or danger of fungi in those specific items was not confirmed.
Squires warned that some fungi, including species of Aspergillus, can produce spores that remain viable for long periods. Changes in humidity during storage or shipping could encourage growth, potentially exposing sellers, postal workers and buyers to respiratory problems. Some mummified remains, funerary objects and historic taxidermy may also contain arsenic, mercury or lead from past preservation treatments. Handling objects or breathing in dust could create exposure risks, particularly when their origin and condition are unknown.
The researchers noted that some sellers pictured themselves holding remains without gloves or masks. They also found listings offering international shipping, despite postal restrictions on human remains. The study describes a poorly controlled trade in which items may travel through ordinary delivery services without specialist assessment.
The online market continues a much older trade. In the 19th century, European interest in Egypt helped make mummies souvenirs and collectibles; body parts such as heads and hands were convenient to transport. The study’s authors argue that the current trade raises concerns about health, archaeological heritage and the sale of human remains, but the findings do not establish that any listed item caused illness.
Sources: Xataka.