Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Scientists discovered what may be the world's oldest known mummies in China and Southeast Asia.
The research posted in the PNAS journal examined 54 pre-Neolithic burials from 11 archeological sites and ancient graves in China, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and found remains from 4,000 to 12,000 years ago that appeared to have been burned in a mummification ritual making some of them older than the previous oldest mummies found in Egypt that date back 4,500 years ago.
The bodies were found in tightly crouched or squatting postures and exhibited burn marks that indicated the remains had been smoke-dried over fire before burial as a process of mummification.
"Smoking likely carried spiritual, religious, or cultural meanings that went far beyond simply slowing decay," Hsiao-chun Hung, a senior research fellow at the Australian National University and lead author of the study, said.
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