The researchers reveal that mummies up to 12,000 years in the South -East Asia are almost double the Egyptians, rewriting the history of mummification.
New scientific tests have just revolutionized what was known about the origin of the mummification. The researchers identified the mummies up to 12,000 years in southern China and in the South – East Asia, using methods to preserve bodies well before Egyptian practices – almost double the time before the famous Nile mummies.
How the millenary mummification worked
Archaeologists discovered that the hunters of the region in the region used fire and smoke to dehydrate corpses. After death, the bodies were put in a fetal position near low intensity bonfires, remaining in heat and smoke for weeks or months, which prevented decomposition without incinerating the remains.
Scientific process behind the discovery
The team examined 54 skeletons and, in 84% of them, found chemical and physical brands compatible with prolonged heat exposure. The analyzes were validated by advanced laboratory techniques, such as X -ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, published on the prestigious Pnas magazine.
Cultural differences and similarities
Unlike Egypt, where the mummies were wrapped in bandages and resins, this Asian tradition gave the priority to smooth heat and burns, rocky shelters or shells of shells, protecting part of the human characteristics and reinforcing the spiritual ties with the dead.
Spiritual meaning for ancient societies
The symbolism of smoking has transcended the simple preservation of the body. For these peoples, keeping the deceased visible and close to the community was a gesture of respect and fortress of family ties, essential elements at the end of the pleistocene and at the beginning of the olcene.
The techniques persist in current cultures
It is interesting to note that similar practices still survive among the traditional peoples of Papua, in Indonesia. Communities like Dani and Pumo are still smoking almost millennial ancestors, a tradition that has gone through thousands of years.
Why do Discovery Surprise experts?
Until recently, the chile chile mummies were considered older, dating back to about 7000 years. Asian discovery repositions Asia as a cradle of mummification techniques, forcing to rewrite history books.
Details of funeral rituals
- Bodies in crossed or shrunk positions;
- Signs of post-moor cuts or burns;
- Absence of Egyptian resins and classic bandages;
- Burial in caves or protected shelters.
Scientific debate and subsequent passages
Although there is already consent on the use of smoking, some experts ask for even more solid methods of appointments and detailed comparative studies to validate whether all these results actually corresponded to conscious acts of mummification.
Archaeological and historical impact
The discovery expands the understanding of mortar practices in the pre-nostaltic era, reveals how much our ancestors have taken care of their death hypotheses and challenges on technical and cultural progress in the tropical regions of Asia.
In demonstrating the existence of mummies with a maximum of 12,000 years and revealing sophisticated conservation techniques, the study not only resigns the origin of this ritual, but also strengthens the spiritual ties that cross millennia. By changing the Eurocentric vision, Asia emerges as the protagonist in the charming human saga of the relationship with death, time and memory.
Source: Terra

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.