Tue Sep 16 05:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A new study published in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* reveals evidence of artificial mummification practices in Southeast Asia dating back as far as 14,000 years ago. Archaeologists analyzed pre-Neolithic burials from multiple sites, finding evidence that bodies were heated and smoked to preserve them, a practice similar to those observed in more recent New Guinea cultures. This involved binding the bodies in crouched or squatting positions and exposing them to low, smoky fires. The discovery pushes back the earliest known evidence of artificial mummification by approximately 5,000 years and highlights the sophisticated spiritual beliefs and technical skills of early Southeast Asian communities.
**News Article:**
**Early Southeast Asians Practiced Mummification 14,000 Years Ago, Study Reveals**
*CHENNAI, September 16, 2025 (The Hindu)* – A groundbreaking study published today in *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* reveals that communities in Southeast Asia practiced artificial mummification as far back as 14,000 years ago, pushing back the earliest known evidence of the practice by an astounding 5,000 years.
Archaeologists from across Asia analyzed dozens of pre-Neolithic burials from 11 sites, focusing on the condition and position of the skeletal remains. Unlike later Neolithic burials where bodies were laid flat, these older burials often exhibited tightly crouched or squatting postures, a puzzle that had long intrigued researchers.
The team used X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and radiocarbon dating to analyze the bones. Results showed that a significant percentage of the bones exhibited elevated crystallinity and burn traces, indicating they had been exposed to heat. Notably, different bones from the same individual showed varying levels of heat exposure, suggesting a deliberate process rather than environmental factors.
Researchers believe the bodies were tightly bound in the crouched positions and suspended over smoky, low fires for extended periods to dry and preserve them. This process mirrors practices observed in more recent times in the New Guinea Highlands.
“Pushing back the earliest known case of artificial mummification by about 5,000 years shows that these early communities already had remarkable spiritual beliefs and technical skills,” said Hsiao-chun Hung, senior research fellow at the Australian National University and the study’s first author, speaking with *The Hindu*.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of early human culture. “It highlights their deep concern for the dead and their willingness to devote great effort to preserving the body as part of community life. This discovery changes how we understand early human culture: it shows that long before we thought, people had developed symbolic thinking, strong social bonds, and rituals that kept the living closely connected with their ancestors.”, added Hung.
The study’s findings demonstrate that early Southeast Asian communities possessed sophisticated knowledge of preservation techniques and underscores the importance of ancestor veneration in their cultural practices. The research is set to prompt further investigation into the cultural and spiritual practices of early Southeast Asian civilizations.
First Piper 