The oldest mummies in the world may hail from south-eastern Asia and date back 12,000 years

This undated photo provided by Hirofumi Matsumura shows a 9,000-year-old mummy in Guangxi, China, in a squatting position. - Hirofumi Matsumura via AP

NEW YORK: Scientists have discovered what's thought to be the oldest known mummies in the world in south-eastern Asia dating back up to 12,000 years.

Mummification prevents decay by preserving dead bodies. The process can happen naturally in places like the sands of Chile's Atacama Desert or the bogs of Ireland where conditions can fend off decomposition. Humans across various cultures also mummified their ancestors through embalming to honour them or send their souls to the afterlife.