There are disclosed an aluminum sintered body comprising(a) aluminum nitride,(b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal, an aluminum compound of an alkaline earth metal, and an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal and an alkaline earth metal, and(c) at least one element selected from the transition elements consisting of Groups IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of the periodic table, and/or at least one compound containing said element,and a process for preparing the same comprising mixing aluminum nitride with(i) at least one of compound selected from the group consisting of a rare earth metal and/or an alkaline earth metal; and(ii) at least one of element selected from the group consisting of a transition element of Groups IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of the periodic table, and/or at least one of a compound containing said element;and then molding and sintering the mixture.