Human remains preserved through smoke-drying have been discovered in parts of ancient China and Southeast Asia, a practice possibly older than Egypt’s well-known mummification tradition.
Thousands of years ago, several ancient societies in China and Southeast Asia used smoke-drying to preserve dead bodies. This method of preservation also appeared in ancient South America, particularly in Chile, where the dry air along the Atacama coastal region naturally mummified human remains.
However, researchers focused on remains recovered from humid regions, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. These countries became the centre of attention due to the nature of burial sites and the condition of discovered skeletons.
Signs of burning were observed on parts of the remains. After detailed examination, researchers concluded that the bodies were likely preserved by smoke-drying – a technique still recognised in some regions of Indonesia.
Samples collected from Japan also showed structural evidence of smoke-drying. Analysis confirmed that the remains were not burned with the intention of destruction, but rather preserved.
According to researchers, some of the remains date back over 10,000 years, making this method of body preservation older than the ancient Egyptian mummification tradition.
