Mummies present in southeast Asia might be world's oldest, as scientists say they date again 12,000 years

[ad_1] Scientists have discovered what might be the world's oldest recognized mummies in southeast Asia, with a few of the preserved stays believed up to now again 12,000 years.

Researchers discovered human stays that have been buried in crouched or squatted positions with some cuts and burn marks in numerous archaeological websites throughout China and Vietnam .

Different stays have been discovered within the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In a research printed within the journal Proceedings of the Nationwide Academy of Sciences, scientists revealed the our bodies have been doubtless uncovered to warmth and steered they'd been smoke-dried over a hearth and mummified.

Research writer Hirofumi Matsumura, with Sapporo Medical College in Japan, mentioned the apply "allowed individuals to maintain bodily and religious connections with their ancestors, bridging time and reminiscence".

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="563x750" src="https://e3.365dm.com/25/09/563x750/skynews-china-mummies-skull_7021687.jpg?20250915213842" srcset="https://e3.365dm.com/25/09/252x337/skynews-china-mummies-skull_7021687.jpg?20250915213842 380w, https://e3.365dm.com/25/09/563x750/skynews-china-mummies-skull_7021687.jpg?20250915213842 760w, https://e3.365dm.com/25/09/900x1200/skynews-china-mummies-skull_7021687.jpg?20250915213842 1024w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Pic: Li Zhen and Hirofumi Matsumuravia / AP" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Pic: Li Zhen and Hirofumi Matsumuravia / AP Whereas mummification can occur naturally in locations the place situations can cease decomposition, numerous cultures additionally mummified their ancestors via embalming to honour them or ship their souls to the afterlife.

Egyptian mummies are probably the most well-known, however a few of the oldest recognized mummies have been ready by a fishing individuals known as the Chinchorro about 7,000 years in the past in what's now Peru and Chile.

In trendy occasions, indigenous communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea additionally smoke-dry and mummify their useless.

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Rita Peyroteo Stjerna, a human evolution professional with Uppsala College in Sweden, who was not concerned within the analysis printed on Monday, expressed some doubts in regards to the research, saying that the relationship strategies used may have been extra sturdy.

She added it was not but clear that mummies have been persistently smoke-dried throughout the places in southeastern Asia, however added in an electronic mail to the Related Press that the findings provide "an vital contribution to the research of prehistoric funerary practices".