The oldest mummies in the world may hail from southeastern Asia and date back 12,000 years

A recent study reveals the discovery of the world’s oldest known mummies in southeastern Asia, predating Egyptian and Chinchorro mummies by thousands of years. These 12,000-year-old remains, found across multiple countries, show evidence of smoke-drying, suggesting intentional mummification by hunter-gatherer communities. This practice highlights the importance of ancestral connections in these prehistoric societies, bridging time and memory.