Scientists resume negotiations with government of the Altay Republic. They discuss famous "Altay princess", a mummy of a woman, discovered at the Ukok plateau in 1993.
The mummy of the young woman is sacred for local population. After the body was found, it was transported to Novosibirsk to the laboratory of archeology and ethnography, where it is still kept. For about 16 years scientists and Altay government debate on where the mummy should be kept.
The government says that local population insists on returning the mummy, since they consider it to be their progenitrix. Also, local beliefs do not approve disturbing ancient graves. Scientists refuse to do that due to no appropriate conditions for storing such a valuable archeological object.
When reconstruction of National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk is over, the mummy will probably move there. It won't be reinterred, the government promises.
Source: Russia InfoCenter