Compared to the mummies of Egypt, these mummies were simply buried without any long term or elaborate preparation. A preliminary observation of the mummies already reveals striking parallels with customs and rituals still practiced in present day Lebanon. An adult woman was found buried with her eighteen month old child.
The infant was placed at the mother’s left shoulder. We are almost certain that the infant is hers since this method of burial is still practiced today in Lebanon when the deaths of both mother and child are caused by complications in the birthing process. Most interesting of all is the adult woman who is buried with her infant.
She is found with pieces of cotton and cloth inserted in both her vaginal and anal orifices. This preparation of the deceased for viewing is still practiced to our day. In some areas of Lebanon such as the Bekaa Valley, the cotton and cloth pieces are wrapped around a small onion and inserted in the human orifices.
Another cultural manifestation is the presence of long black human hair found between Yasmine’s toes. It probably belonged to the child’s mother. Local tradition has it, that the grieving mother will pull out her hair while kissing the feet of her lost child.
A talismanic prayer recovered from the grotto requests the intercession of saints in curing a sick child. This prayer resembles the ones still in practice and use among the Maronites in present-day Lebanon, e.g.,. ‘Kitab Mar Antonios’ — the Talisman of Saint Anthony of Qozhayya.
A wooden house key was found on the body of one of the adult female mummies. In accordance with traditional customs, at the funeral of the last surviving member of a family, the key to the dead person’s house will be tossed over the roof of that house indicating that the house of that family will forever be closed.
In this case the person died in a besieged Grotto, so the key was tossed in the grave similar circumstances mourners will comment by saying, “pity this family, their house is forever closed.”
