Scientists have discovered what is thought to be the oldest known mummies in the world in southeastern Asia dating back up to 12,000 years.
A new study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found evidence of human remains that were buried in crouched or squatted positions with some cuts and burn marks.
These remains were discovered in various archaeological sites across China and Vietnam and to a lesser extent, from the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Studying the bones further, scientists discovered the bodies were likely exposed to heat.
That suggested the bodies had been smoke-dried over a fire and mummified by hunter-gatherer communities in the area.
While it is unclear if the mummies were smoke-dried across all locations, the findings offer “an important contribution to the study of prehistoric funerary practices,” said human evolution expert Rita Peyroteo Stjerna. — AP
