Hundreds of mummies preserved and buried by ancient indigenous people have been found in the mountainous regions of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile . In the past ten years black wet patches have appeared on some mummies . Scientists found bacteria on preserved skin is slowing the process down . Rising humidity levels in the region have ' supercharged ' the skin bacteria . They are then causing the preserved skin to break down into black slime . Scientists now hope to protect the mummies from suffering further damage .
Hundreds of mummies preserved and buried by ancient Chinchorro people have been found in the arid sand of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile . In the past ten years black wet patches have appeared on some mummies . Scientists found bacteria on preserved skin is breaking the mummies down . Rising humidity levels in the region have 'supercharged ' the skin bacteria . They are then causing the preserved skin to break down into black slime . Scientists now hope to protect the mummies from suffering further damage .