Oldest Mummies: Southeast Asia Discovery – 12,000 Years Old
- Scientists have discovered what are believed to be the oldest known human mummies, found in archaeological sites across Southeast Asia.
- Mummification is a process that prevents the decay of corpses, preserving them for extended periods.
- While Egyptian mummies are the most famous, the Chinchorro people of Peru and Chile were previously known for creating some of the oldest prepared mummies, dating back approximately...
Oldest Known Mummies Discovered in Southeast Asia, Dating back 12,000 Years
Table of Contents
published September 18, 2025, 23:51 UTC
Scientists have discovered what are believed to be the oldest known human mummies, found in archaeological sites across Southeast Asia. The remains date back as far as 12,000 years, predating previously known mummies by several millennia.
The Science of mummification
Mummification is a process that prevents the decay of corpses, preserving them for extended periods. This can occur naturally in environments like the arid atacama Desert in Chile (National Geographic) or the peat bogs of Ireland (Smithsonian Magazine), where unique conditions inhibit decomposition. However, many cultures have also intentionally mummified their ancestors through embalming practices, often to honor them or facilitate beliefs about the afterlife.
A new Timeline for Ancient Practices
While Egyptian mummies are the most famous, the Chinchorro people of Peru and Chile were previously known for creating some of the oldest prepared mummies, dating back approximately 7,000 years (Smithsonian Magazine). A new study, published on September 16, 2024, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), challenges this timeline.
Researchers identified human remains from sites in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These remains were found in crouched or squatted positions and exhibited evidence of cuts and burn marks.
Smoke-Drying and Ancestral Connections
Analysis of the bones suggests the bodies were exposed to heat, leading scientists to believe they were smoke-dried over fires - a deliberate mummification technique employed by hunter-gatherer communities in the region. Hirofumi Matsumura, the study’s author from Sapporo medical University in Japan, explained in an email that this practice “allowed people to sustain physical and spiritual connections with their ancestors, bridging time and memory.”
Expert Commentary and Future Research
Rita Peyroteo Stjerna, a human evolution expert at Uppsala University in Sweden who was not involved in the research, noted that while the dating methods could be refined and consistency of the smoke-drying technique across all locations remains unclear, the findings represent “an significant contribution to the study of prehistoric funerary practices.”
The practice of intentionally preserving the dead is not confined to the past. Indigenous communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea continue to practice smoke-drying and mummification today (ABC News Australia), demonstrating the enduring cultural meaning of connecting with ancestors.