Archaeologists discover mysterious mummies in Chinese desert
Ellie Abraham
Jul 01, 2025
Experts have narrowed down the origins of mysterious mummies found in the Chinese desert, and the results are quite surprising.
Most of us typically associate mummification with Ancient Egypt, but the remains of other mummified objects have been found across the world. In Peru, experts were left baffled by the discovery of mummified “non-human” remains that had just three fingers.
The discovery of hundreds of human mummies in the deserts of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region equally confused experts, who have now used the genetic data to determine their origins. They were found located off the Silk Road in the Tarim Basin but left experts confused due to their unusual traditions and appearance that seemed out of place for the region.
Dating from between 2,000 BCE to 200 CE, the mummies possessed “Western” features and wore colourful wool clothing. Alongside them were indicators of a farming culture, including animals like cattle, sheep and goats, as well as food products like wheat, barley and cheese. The mummies were discovered buried in boat-shaped coffins which were covered with cow hides.
In a study in the Nature journal, researchers analysed the genetic data gathered from 13 of the earliest known Tarim Basin mummies. They date back to 2,100 to 1,700 BCE and have revealed where the people came from.
More:
https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/tarim-basin-mummies-china-2672516567
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