Burned National Museum in Rio had relics from around world
Brazil's National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, which suffered a massive fire late Sunday, boasted the largest archive of historical artifacts and documents in Latin America, some 20 million pieces from around the globe. Museum officials say it's too soon to say what has been lost or spared.
Here is a look at some of the museum's most notable pieces, according to its website:
'LUZIA'
Discovered during an excavation in 1975 outside of the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, the fossilized remains sat in storage for two decades. In the mid-1990s, tests by scientists determined it was the oldest fossil in the Americas. It was given the name "Luzia," homage to "Lucy," the famous 3.2-million-year-old remains found in Africa.
ANCIENT EGYPT
Among the Egyptian relics is the mummy of Sha-Amun-In-Su, dating to 750 B.C. The mummy was in its original coffin, which was closed. It was given to Brazil's emperor, Dom Pedro II, by Egyptian Viceroy Ismail Pasha during a visit to the Middle East. Egyptian authorities have expressed concern about the fate of the collection and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has told Brazilian authorities that it is ready to extend technical help for the restoration of artifacts.
INDIGENOUS REMAINS
One of the museum's most important expositions of indigenous peoples were three bodies mummified together, an adult and two children. It was originally found in the state of Minas Gerais. The collection also includes bows and arrows from different indigenous groups and explanations about studies conducted by the royal family on the Tupi and Guarani languages.
![Burned National Museum in Rio had relics from around world](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2018/1-burnednation.jpg "This combination of two undated handout photos provided by Brazil's National Museum shows the skull of Luzia Woman, left, and a reconstruction of Luzia, right, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Discovered during an excavation in 1975 outside of the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, Luzia's fossilized remains sat in storage for two decades. In the mid-1990s, tests by scientists determined it was the oldest fossil in the Americas. It was given the name "Luzia," homage to "Lucy," the famous 3.2-million-year-old remains found in Africa. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)")
METEORITE
Called Bendego and weighing more than 5 tons, the meteorite is the largest ever found in Brazil. It was found in the state of Bahia in the 18th century. The meteorite, which sits in a main entrance, could be seen in the burned-out building.
DINOSAUR
One of the museum's most popular displays was one of its biggest, a dinosaur called Maxakalisaurus tapai. Found in Minas Gerais in 1998, the excavation and reconstruction of the dinosaur took 10 years.
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This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows the Egyptian wooden coffin of Sha-Amun-em-su, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Among the Egyptian relics is the mummy of Sha-Amun-In-Su, dating back to 750 B.C. It was given to Dom Pedro II by Egyptian Viceroy Ismail Pasha during a visit to the Middle East. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP) -
In this undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum a meteorite called Bendego sits at the entrance of the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Weighing more than five tons, the meteorite is the largest ever found in Brazil. It was found in the state of Bahia in the 18th century. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP) -
This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows a skeletal replica of a dinosaur called Maxakalisaurus tapai, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the museum's most popular displays. Found in Minas Gerais in 1998, the excavation and reconstruction of the dinosaur took 10 years. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP) -
This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows a mummified individual at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, who was found in a cave in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais in the nineteenth century. Natural preservation is rare because of the tropical climate and acid soil, which accelerate the decomposition of the body. This discovery was donated to Emperor Dom Pedro II by the coffee grower Maria José de Santana, owner of the farm where the cave was located. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)
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