Baguio Philippines Rich Igorote's Burial Mummy 1913 Real Photo Postcard

The postcard documents a traditional burial practice of the Igorot people, indigenous communities inhabiting the Cordillera Central mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines. The image shows a deceased individual, identified as a "Rich Igorote," undergoing a unique mummification process involving smoking the body for an extended period, noted as 24 days. This ritual aimed to preserve the physical form, often in a seated position, reflecting a belief in maintaining a connection between the deceased's spirit and the living community before final interment in natural rock shelters or caves.

Such elaborate mummification methods were typically reserved for revered elders or high-status individuals, underscoring their societal and spiritual significance within Igorot culture. These practices were integral to animistic belief systems and ancestor worship, prevalent before the widespread impact of Christianization and modern influences during the American colonial period (early 20th century). This postcard serves as a valuable ethnographic record of these distinct indigenous traditions.