By Ijaz Yousafzai
In an astonishing discovery, a well-preserved body of a man was found inside a glacier in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Local authorities during a briefing on the situation have said that a man who had been missing since 1997 has now been identified as a local resident.
A national identity card found in the pocket of the deceased man has led to this development. A frozen dead horse’s body was also discovered from the site. The dead-body and the remnants found would be sufficient enough for the family’s satisfaction.
This discovery has shaken the local folks as to how a man who disappeared 28 years ago hasn’t decomposed. However, there are innumerable instances of such discoveries.
The recovery of a dead horse and other belongings suggests that the unfortunate man might have traveled from one place to another in extreme weather conditions. A hit of a landslide or slipping from a high-altitude place down into a deep gorge might have buried them.
While keeping in mind the above discussion, I will try to deconstruct the scientific phenomenon of living things being resistant from decay for a long period of time, sometimes stretching from hundreds of years to millennia.
So, what are the factors that lead to reducing or stopping the natural process of decomposition? According to Dr. Lavinia Iancu, the Director of the Forensic Science Program in Romania, cold temperatures prevent the breakdown of tissues and organs. Such an environment reduces or stops the effectiveness of a type of bacteria and enzymes responsible for the process of decomposition.
Another reason, according to the “Live Science Website” for a body being well-preserved is the process of freeze-drying which leads to a natural form of mummification. In the cold, dry environment, moisture from the body removes which causes freeze-drying or mummification. Apart from this, snow as a best insulator saves a body in the initial stage.
There are many other biological and environmental factors that prevent a body from decaying. The reason we see that innumerable dead bodies trapped in the snow unharmed for a long time is now understandable.
Similarly, scientists have also unearthed the fact of how microorganisms remain safe in the extreme cold temperatures. By becoming dormant and maintaining their DNA, microorganisms can endure long periods of time in glaciers.