Archaeologists reported the discovery of the oldest mummies, dating back about 12,000 years. The findings were announced this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Human remains were uncovered in China and Vietnam, with other examples in the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The bodies were placed in crouched positions, with some showing cuts and burns. Researchers said that hunter-gatherer groups preserved the bodies by smoke-drying them over fire. This discovery challenges the earlier belief that the Chinchorro people of South America, about 7,000 years ago, made the first mummies. The study explained that this practice had cultural and spiritual meaning, helping families remember ancestors and keep traditions enduring and notable.

The investigation showed that heat exposure and careful work were important in this method. Experts said the process gave communities a way to show respect for the dead. One researcher called the discovery an epochal finding for funerary studies, while another said it had strong academic value. However, some scholars noted that more tests are needed because not all sites showed smoke-drying. Despite these limitations, the discovery gave an insightful view of how early societies handled death. The study also noted that smoke-drying is still used by some Indigenous groups in Australia and Papua New Guinea, making the tradition meaningful even today.