Ancient Smoke-Dried Remains in Asia May Be World's Oldest Mummies
Researchers have discovered human remains in Southeast Asia, dating back up to 12,000 years, that appear to have been smoke-dried, potentially representing the world's oldest known mummies.
Researchers have uncovered human remains in Southeast Asia, dating back up to 12,000 years, that appear to have been smoke-dried, potentially representing the world's oldest known mummies. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined 54 burials from sites in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where bodies were found in tightly crouched positions with evidence of heat exposure.
The analysis suggests that hunter-gatherer communities in the region practiced smoke-drying to preserve their dead, allowing for sustained physical and spiritual connections with ancestors. This method predates the previously known oldest mummies from the Chinchorro people of South America, who practiced mummification around 7,000 years ago.
While some experts caution that the dating methods need further validation and it remains uncertain whether the practice was widespread across all examined sites, the discovery significantly enriches the understanding of prehistoric funerary traditions.
Notably, some Indigenous communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea continue similar mummification practices today.