Princess of Ukok mummy returns to save Russia from major disaster
After 17 years of research, the famous "Princess of Ukok" returned to Russia's Altai on September 20. The armored sarcophagus with the remains of the mummy was flown from Novosibirsk by Mi-8 helicopter.
Scientific expedition under the chairmanship of Novosibirsk-based archaeologist Natalya Polosmak found the mummy in 1993. The ancient human remains were discovered in the burial mount of Scythian era on Ukok plateau, near the border with Mongolia, the Voice of Russia says. The mummy is more than 2.5 thousand years old.
As long as there were no necessary conditions in Altai to store and preserve the unique finding, the Princess of Ukok was delivered to the Museum of the Novosibirsk Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, where it was studied by scientists.
Meanwhile, specialists reconstructed the museum in the town of Gorno-Altaisk to create necessary conditions for storing the mummy. All the works were successfully completed by late summer. Special German equipment is used to maintain and control required temperature and humidity conditions in the museum. The opening is scheduled for September 26.
Scientists believe that the woman, whom they call 'princess' in Altai, in fact was a representative of middle classes, says Utro.ru. Quite possibly, she was a healer or a fortune-teller.
Local shamans predicted that if the mummy is not returned by 2014, a terrible disaster would strike all of Russia. Noteworthy, the Altai region experienced quite a number of disasters during the time when the "princess" was away from her "homeland."