Oldest known mummies found in Southeast Asia
The world's oldest known mummies date back to 12,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, revealing a widespread and ancient practice of deliberate mummification.
Why it matters
- Discovery pushes back mummification timeline by thousands of years.
- Shows mummification practices were more widespread and varied than thought.
- Method used—smoking over open fires—differs from well-known techniques.
By the numbers
- 69 bone samples from 54 burials examined.
- Samples date between 4,000 and 12,000 years.
- 84% of samples showed heat exposure.
The big picture
- Deliberate mummification is older and more widespread than believed.
- Suggests long-term cultural persistence in mortuary practices.
- Technique indicates cultural link between ancient and later practices.
What they're saying
- Users fascinated by discovery, speculate about ancient cultures' advancement.
- One comment mentions rumors of early civilizations in the area.
Caveats
- Study based on small sample size of bone samples.
- Further research needed to confirm widespread nature of practice.
What’s next
- More archaeological studies could uncover additional evidence.
- Further analysis could provide insights into cultural significance.