World’s earliest known mummies found in Southeast Asia, dating back 14,000 years

Archaeologists have found evidence of intentional human mummification from 14,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, the world's oldest known mummies. Hunter-gatherer groups in southern China and Southeast Asia preserved bodies through prolonged, low-temperature smoke-drying between 12,000-4,000 years ago. Lab analyses showed molecular changes in bones consistent with sustained low-heat exposure, while intact, flexed skeletons indicated deliberate preservation. This discovery predates previously oldest known examples from Chile and Egypt by thousands of years, suggesting a sophisticated mortuary tradition for maintaining connections with ancestors.