Ancient Smoke-Dried Mummies in Southeast Asia May Be World's Oldest

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence suggesting that hunter-gatherer communities in Southeast Asia practiced smoke-dried mummification up to 14,000 years ago, potentially making these the oldest known mummies.

The study examined 54 pre-Neolithic burials from 11 sites across the region, dating between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago. The bodies were often found in crouched or squatting positions, lacking grave goods, and showed signs of having been desiccated prior to burial.

Using techniques such as X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, researchers detected evidence of prolonged low-temperature heating on the bones, indicative of a smoke-drying process.

"Smoked mummification takes about three months, during which time the body is slowly and continuously heated over a low fire," said Dr. Hsiao-chun Hung from the Australian National University.

This discovery predates the mummification practices of Ancient Egypt, which began around 4,500 years ago, and the Chinchorro culture of northern Chile, dating back approximately 7,000 years.

The findings suggest a deep ancestral connection between these ancient Southeast Asian communities and present-day Indigenous groups in Oceania, such as the Dani of Indonesian New Guinea, who continue similar mummification practices today.

"It is quite possible that we are seeing the descendants of the first modern humans in Southeastern Asia," said Professor Peter Bellwood, co-author of the study.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.