In the tranquil town of San Bernardo nestled high in the Colombian Andes, a perplexing phenomenon has captured the attention of locals and visitors alike: spontaneous mummification. Clovisnerys Bejarano, a resident of the town, kneels before the glass box containing the petrified remains of her mother, Saturnina Torres de Bejarano, who passed away three decades ago yet appears remarkably preserved.
Saturnina, dressed in the same attire she was laid to rest in, resembles someone peacefully asleep rather than deceased. Her well-preserved features, including her braids and clothing, evoke a sense of eerie fascination among those who visit her at the museum displaying her body alongside 13 others from San Bernardo.
Bejarano, reflecting on her mother’s state, expresses a belief that divine intervention plays a role, stating, “If God wanted to preserve her… it must be for a reason.”
The mystery of spontaneous mummification in San Bernardo dates back to the 1960s when the first mummified bodies were discovered in the town’s cemetery vaults. Despite numerous attempts by experts to unravel the enigma, the exact cause remains elusive. Some locals attribute the phenomenon to divine favor, viewing it as a posthumous reward for virtuous individuals, while others perceive it as a form of punishment.
While theories abound, ranging from the town’s temperate climate to its residents’ healthy lifestyle, no definitive explanation has emerged. Even the cemetery’s unique location on a steep mountain slope, coupled with constant winds and high temperatures, has been proposed as a contributing factor.
Anthropologist Daniela Betancourt suggests that the cemetery’s vaults may act like ovens, dehydrating the bodies and facilitating mummification. However, further studies are needed to validate this hypothesis and shed light on the specific conditions conducive to mummification.
Despite the intrigue surrounding these mummified remains, the decision to display them in the museum rests with the deceased’s relatives. While some opt for cremation, others, like the Bejarano family, choose to preserve the memory of their loved ones in their mummified state.
For Clovisnerys Bejarano and her family, visiting Saturnina’s tomb is a poignant reminder of their heritage and a testament to the enduring mysteries that define their small town nestled in the Colombian Andes.
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