Archaeologists rewrite human history after making 12,000 year old discovery

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of what are believed to be the oldest mummies in the world, which experts say could rewrite early human history.

The mummies, unearthed in Southeast Asia, are thought to be as old as 12,000 years old, providing evidence of intentional mummification ceremonies in early hunter-gatherer societies.

Researchers examined 54 burials from 11 archaeological sites and found ancient human remains buried in tightly crouched or squatting positions, with evidence of post-mortem dismemberment and burning.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed that several of the corpses had been smoke-dried above fires, just like the mummification process used by Indigenous Australians and New Guinea Highlands populations to this day.

This evidence, dating back 12,000 years, proves the existence of mummies some 5,000 years earlier than previous discoveries, with the oldest known mummies previously dating back to 7,000 years ago.

The mummies date as far back as 12,000 years. (H. Hung et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.)

The researchers used advanced technology like X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to study the chemical and structural changes in the bones, which confirmed extensive exposure to heat, suggesting the remains had undergone smoke drying, Archaeology News reports.

Smoke-drying mummification works by using low heat to warm the body slowly, removing any moisture from the tissues without destroying them. The smoke exposure provides antimicrobial properties that prevent bacteria and fungi from causing decay.

The process can take as long as several weeks but will eventually result in the body's skin, tendons and even sometimes internal organs surviving significantly longer than they would in a normal burial.

The discovery of these mummies across the 11 different sites suggests that intentional mummification was already widespread across Southeast Asia in the Terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene.

It was revealed that several of the corpses had been smoke-dried above fires (H. Hung et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.)

Some of the most significant sites examined in the study include the Zengpiyan Cave in northeastern Guangxi, China, where 26 pre-Neolithic burials were uncovered in flexed or squatting positions, and the Huiyaotian shell mound, also in Guangxi, which contained 169 burials, many arranged in side-flexed or crouched postures.

Meanwhile, 267 burials were found at northern Vietnam's Con Co Ngua site, with the vast majority discovered in the squatting position.

At Gua Harimau in southern Sumatra, researchers found pre-Neolithic burials in flexed positions as well as later Neolithic and Iron Age graves. Most of the older burials were carefully arranged, sometimes with stones placed on top, showing that people followed specific rituals and meaningful burial practices.

These findings provide important insights into the cultural beliefs and burial practices of early Southeast Asian hunter-gatherers.