Could the world’s oldest mummies have come from Asia?

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our current knowledge of human history and burial traditions. Recent research indicates that the oldest mummified bodies ever found may not have originated from traditional mummy-making cultures like Ancient Egypt or Chile. Instead, scientists have identified 54 smoke-dried burials from 11 different sites in Southeast Asia, with the oldest remains dating back 12,000 to 14,000 years. These findings suggest a much earlier practice of mummification in Asia than previously believed. Chronicling the history of mummification, these ancient Asian mummies predate both the well-known Chinchorro mummies of Chile, dating back 7,000 years, and the mummies from Egypt’s Old Kingdom, which are around 4,500 years old.