(MENAFN) Scientists have uncovered what are believed to be the world's oldest known mummies, dating as far back as 12,000 years, according to groundbreaking research released on Monday.

The study, published in PNAS, details how human remains—found in crouched or squatting positions, some with cut and burn marks—were unearthed at various archaeological sites across China and Vietnam. Smaller numbers of remains were also discovered in the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In particular, the remains found in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia were preserved through prolonged exposure to low heat, even though they did not show the typical signs associated with mummification. Researchers suggest that hunter-gatherer communities in the region may have smoke-dried and mummified the remains over a fire, exposing them to heat.

“Some of the analyzed archaeological samples represent the oldest known instances of such artificial mummification in the world,” the study said.

To conduct their analysis, the research team used a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, to identify mineral composition, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, to examine chemical bonds. They studied 54 pre-Neolithic burials from 11 sites across Southeast Asia.

While Egypt's famous mummies often take the spotlight, the oldest mummies previously known were created around 7,000 years ago by the Chinchorro people, who lived along the coasts of present-day Peru and Chile.

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