Philippines Rich Igorot Woman Smoked Burial 1920s Real Photo Postcard

The Igorot people, indigenous groups inhabiting the Cordillera Central mountains of Luzon, Philippines, traditionally practiced an elaborate form of mummification. This complex ritual, often reserved for high-status individuals, involved preserving the deceased through processes like smoking, anointing with herbs, and specific preparations, as indicated by the postcard's title Smoked 24 Days. The goal was to desiccate the body, preventing decay and ensuring the spirit's continued presence among the living.