Scientists uncover possible 12,000-year-old mummies in Southeast Asia, shedding light on ancient burial practices and the potential use of fire for preservation.
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| Researchers discover mummies in Southeast Asia potentially over 12,000 years old. Image: Collected |
Science Desk — September 16, 2025:
The discovery of mummies in Southeast Asia, potentially over 12,000 years old, has shaken the world of archaeology. With findings from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, researchers believe these ancient remains could be the oldest mummies ever discovered, surpassing the well-known Egyptian specimens. What does this reveal about early human practices and how did these civilizations preserve their dead?
The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, proposes that the bodies were likely exposed to high heat, possibly through a process of smoke-drying over fire. This would have preserved the remains, creating mummies in the process. Hirofumi Matsumura, one of the lead researchers from Sapporo Medical University in Japan, noted that the smoke-drying method could have allowed ancient people to maintain a spiritual and physical connection to their ancestors, effectively bridging the gap between the living and the dead.
This finding opens new questions about ancient preservation practices. While mummification is often associated with Egypt, some of the oldest preserved remains actually come from the Chinchorro culture of Peru and Chile, dating back around 7,000 years. The Southeast Asian mummies, however, might suggest a far earlier and widespread use of similar techniques across the globe.
Mummification is an ancient practice, but its method varies depending on the culture and geography. In regions where natural preservation conditions, such as arid deserts or frozen grounds, slow decomposition, mummification can occur without human intervention. However, many ancient societies intentionally preserved their dead through embalming or other techniques—such as the smoke-drying methods suggested in the recent Southeast Asian findings.
While the discovery is groundbreaking, the study has faced some skepticism. Rita Peyroteo Stjerna, a human evolution expert at Uppsala University, expressed concerns about the robustness of the dating methods used in the research. She also questioned whether mummification through smoke-drying was a consistent practice across all the studied sites in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, she acknowledged the research’s importance in shedding light on prehistoric funerary practices, which can help us understand the cultural and spiritual worlds of early human societies.
This discovery could challenge traditional views on mummification, pushing researchers to reconsider the geographical and chronological scope of ancient preservation practices. Could Southeast Asia have been a cradle of early mummification, and how might this discovery alter our understanding of ancient human culture? With further study, these questions may soon find answers that could reshape the historical narrative.