article_snippet: Researchers say that rising humidity levels in Arica, Chile, is putting the 120 Chinchorro mummies at the University of Tarapacá's archaeological museum at risk.
article_snippet: However, rising humidity levels in Arica, Chile, is putting the 120 Chinchorro mummies at the University of Tarapacá's archaeological museum at risk warn that hundreds of other mummies buried just beneath the sandy surface in the valleys throughout the region are also under threat.
article_snippet: Researchers at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that mummies need to be kept at between 40 per cent and 60 per cent humidity to prevent degradation occurring.
article_snippet: If humidity falls below this level, acidification could also damage An estimated 282 mummies.
article_snippet: Museum staff are now fine tuning the temperature and humidity to help preserve An estimated 282 mummiesMuseum staff .