The Mummies of Guanajuato

11 of 11 in portfolio.

Looking into the Eyes of the Dead

“We enjoy looking at the most exact portrayals of things we do not like to see in real life… for instance, corpses. This is because not only philosophers, but all men enjoy getting to understand something.”
— Aristotle, The Poetics


Guanajuato, nestled in central Mexico, is bordered by the states of Jalisco to the west, Zacatecas to the northwest, San Luis Potosí to the north, Querétaro to the east, and Michoacán to the south. The charming artisan town of San Miguel de Allende lies just an hour’s drive away.

Among Guanajuato’s most remarkable attractions is an above-ground crypt containing approximately one hundred naturally mummified bodies. These remains were exhumed in 1911 and stored until 1968, when local authorities made the decision to display them to the public. The residents of Guanajuato regard these haunting figures with a mix of curiosity and reverence rather than fear or disgust.

As the birthplace of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, Guanajuato embodies a cultural perspective that embraces death as a natural and integral part of life. This acceptance informs the way the crypt is perceived—not as a grotesque spectacle, but as a profound reminder of mortality and memory.

With permission from local officials, I was granted access to the crypt during its restoration phase. The photographs presented here were taken in 1984, capturing the solemn presence of these preserved bodies and offering a contemplative glance into the eyes of the dead.

“That corpse you planted last year in your garden. Has begun to sprout?”

T.S. Eliot