The World's Oldest Mummy.
Saved in:
| Title: | The World's Oldest Mummy. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Rayne, Elizabeth (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Popular Mechanics. Mar/Apr2026, p20-20. 1p. 1 Color Photograph. |
| Subjects: | Mummification, Archaeological discoveries, Interment, Funerals, Hunter-gatherer societies, Mummies |
| Geographic Terms: | Vietnam |
| Abstract: | The article discusses the discovery of what is believed to be the oldest evidence of mummification, dating back 14,000 years in Vietnam, predating the ancient Egyptian practices. Researchers found a scorched arm bone, indicating a method of smoking bodies over low fires to preserve them, likely developed in response to the region's humid climate. This technique involved binding the deceased and suspending them above smoky fires to remove moisture, with some bones showing cuts that may have facilitated evaporation. The findings suggest a long-standing cultural practice of smoked mummification among ancient Southeast Asian hunter-gatherer societies, linking them to contemporary mortuary customs in Papua New Guinea and Australia. [Extracted from the article] |
| Copyright of Popular Mechanics is the property of Hearst Magazines, a division of Hearst Communications, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | The article discusses the discovery of what is believed to be the oldest evidence of mummification, dating back 14,000 years in Vietnam, predating the ancient Egyptian practices. Researchers found a scorched arm bone, indicating a method of smoking bodies over low fires to preserve them, likely developed in response to the region's humid climate. This technique involved binding the deceased and suspending them above smoky fires to remove moisture, with some bones showing cuts that may have facilitated evaporation. The findings suggest a long-standing cultural practice of smoked mummification among ancient Southeast Asian hunter-gatherer societies, linking them to contemporary mortuary customs in Papua New Guinea and Australia. [Extracted from the article] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00324558 |