Ancient mummies, believed to be the oldest, originate from Southeast Asia.
In a groundbreaking discovery, an international research team led by Hsiao-chun Hung from the Australian National University has unearthed the oldest known mummies in the world, dating back up to 12,000 years. These mummies were found in Southeast Asia, challenging the long-held belief that the Chinchorro people in Peru and Chile were responsible for the oldest news today.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, did not provide new information about the age of the mummies but offered an important contribution to the study of prehistoric funerary practices. Rita Peyroteo Stjerna, a human evolution expert from Uppsala University in Sweden, noted the significance of the news.
The mummified remains were discovered in crouched or squatted positions with cuts and burn marks across various archaeological sites in China, Vietnam, and to a lesser extent, from the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The bodies were likely smoke-dried over a fire, suggesting that mummification was practiced by hunter-gatherer communities in the area.
Mummification allowed people to maintain physical and spiritual connections with their ancestors, bridging time and memory, according to study author Hirofumi Matsumura. This practice was not limited to Southeast Asia, as it is still observed today by indigenous communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The dating methods used on the mummies could have been more robust, and it is not yet clear if mummies were consistently smoke-dried across all locations in southeastern Asia. However, the study suggests that the practice of smoke-drying and mummification might have been more widespread in the region than previously thought.
Mummification can occur naturally in certain environments, such as the sands of Chile's Atacama Desert or the bogs of Ireland. But the mummies found in Southeast Asia were preserved through a process known as mummification, which prevents decay.
The practice of mummifying ancestors has been carried out for various reasons across different cultures, including honoring them or sending their souls to the afterlife. This new discovery offers valuable insights into the prehistoric practices of the people in Southeast Asia and the importance they placed on their ancestors.
The study was published on Monday, providing a fascinating glimpse into our past and the rich history of the region. Further research is needed to fully understand the significance of these ancient mummies and the cultures that created them.
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