Laos

Oldest Known Mummies Discovered in Southeast Asia, Dating Back 12,000 Years

A new study published in PNAS reveals that human remains found across China, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries may have been deliberately mummified as far back as 12,000 years ago, predating Egyptian mummies. The bodies were buried in crouched positions with cuts and burn marks, suggesting smoke-drying techniques. Lead author Professor Hirofumi Matsumura of Sapporo Medical University said the practice allowed spiritual connections with ancestors. Previously, the oldest known mummies were the Chinchorro in South America (7,000 years old). Some experts, like Dr Rita Peyroteo Stjerna of Uppsala University, urged caution about dating methods.