Recent research has revealed that Southeast Asians created the earliest known human mummies about 7,000 years prior to the emergence of Egyptian mummification practices. This indicates a significant historical development in the methods of preserving the dead, challenging long-held beliefs that equated ancient Egyptian practices as the earliest. Archaeologists have traced this mummification tradition back to hunter-gatherers in southern China, Southeast Asia, and various islands, a practice prevalent approximately 12,000 to 4,000 years ago. Ancient communities prepared the dead by binding bodies in crouched postures and subjected them to extended drying over low-temperature, smoky fires.
Inspired by contemporary examples of smoke-dried mummies, including those from the Dani people in the New Guinea Highlands, researchers have managed to construct a clearer understanding of these ancient preservation techniques. The study led by Hsiao-chun Hung at the Australian National University suggests that smoke-dried mummification may have stemmed from ancient beliefs that prioritized the preservation of revered ancestors. This practice may have spread across southern and possibly into Northeast Asia as human groups migrated out of Africa, a process believed to have begun approximately 60,000 years ago.
The cultural significance of mummification has been emphasized through the study of its historical and geographical reach. The advanced techniques of smoke-drying developed in various regions and were sustained for over 12,000 years among Indigenous groups. The spread of this practice is illustrated further by comparisons to South America’s Chinchorro people, who developed their own mummification around 7,000 years ago, including complex procedures such as organ removal, contrasting with the methods seen in Southeast Asia.
Hung’s research team analyzed skeletal remains from 95 sites across Southeast Asia and neighboring islands, including areas like Borneo and Java. This analysis unveiled evidence of intentional heating, indicated by charred bones and the careful positioning of skeletons, which pointed to prolonged exposure to smoke. The drying effect of the smoke helped preserved the integrity of the corpses, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of preservation techniques among these ancient societies.
Particularly striking is how skeletal analysis revealed changes in the bones’ internal molecular structure, corroborated through lab techniques applied to samples from multiple sites. The findings imply a deliberate method of preserving dead bodies, suggesting an advanced level of ritualistic care associated with death and the afterlife beliefs prevalent in ancient Southeast Asia.
Given this newfound understanding of early mummification practices, Hung and her team aim to further investigate skeletons from southern Chinese and Southeast Asian sites dating over 20,000 years ago. This effort could unearth additional insights into the practices surrounding death and preservation in prehistorical contexts, further bridging our understanding of how ancient cultures honored and remembered their dead across different regions and epochs.
