People in South America were making mummies before ancient Egyptians were.

Mummies make most people think of Egypt first. The Chinchorro culture changes the order. Guinness World Records identifies Chinchorro mummies as the earliest examples of artificial mummification, and National Geographic describes them as purposefully created around 2,000 years before ancient Egyptians were wrapping pharaohs. Intentional mummification was happening in South America before the famous Egyptian version. The fact works because it does not just add an older date; it moves a familiar practice to a place most people do not expect. The mental picture changes continent. Egypt is not the starting point.

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