Arctic Circle, her long eyelashes and hair still intact after 900 years.
Her haunting face and features are clearly seen after she was unwrapped by scientists from the cocoon of copper and fur in which she was buried in permafrost soil in the 12th century.
The mummy is the only adult female found among around three dozen adult graves dug up by archaeologists in the Zeleny Yar burial site near SalekhardCredit: Institute of the problems of Northern Development SB RAS / The Siberian Times
Aged around 35, she was the only woman buried around almost three dozen men, and the detail on her accidentally mummified remains is astonishing.
Her impressive eyelashes and teeth are immaculately preserved as is her full head of hair.
The green tinge on her face is from the fragments of a copper kettle apparently intended to protect her as she journeyed to the afterlife.
The copper had the unintended consequence of mummifying her, archeologists believe.
The mummy is the only adult female found among around three dozen adult graves dug up by archaeologists in the Zeleny Yar burial site near Salekhard, reported The Siberian Times.
She was a member of a mysterious medieval hunting and fishing civilisation that held sway in this polar region, but had connections to Persia.
The extraordinary find even has eyelashes and teeth perfectly preservedCredit: Institute of the problems of Northern Development SB RAS / The Siberian Times
The green tinge on her face is from the fragments of a copper kettle apparently intended to protect her as she journeyed to the afterlifeCredit: Institute of the problems of Nor
Archeologists are puzzled why she is the only adult female found in the necropolis, and had earlier thought this was an all male burial ground.
It could mean she was an elite member of her society which lived in this cold region, although apart from several temple rings close to her skull, there was no evidence of jewellery in her tomb.
While her head is well preserved, the rest of her body was not.
A small 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 found in a grave nearby — also probably female — is not believed to be related to this middle ages mummy.
Archaeologist Alexander Gusev, from Russia’s Arctic Research Centre, said: “We clearly see from the face that she was a woman.
“This radically changes our concept about this graveyard.
“Previously we thought that there were only adult men and 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, but now we have a woman.
“It’s amazing.”
