DNA studies reveal that the Tarim Basin mummies were native to ancient China, a finding reported by Arkeonews. In 1990, hundreds of mummified individuals were uncovered on boats in the desert of Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwestern China. Despite being about four thousand years old, their preservation is remarkable: facial features and hair colors remain visible.
Initial assumptions suggested these people did not dwell in Xinjiang. They appeared tall, wore wool felt hats and leather boots, and some displayed blond hair. Yet, DNA analysis of 13 mummies conducted in 2021 indicates that they were long-time residents who had inhabited the region for generations.
The mummies seem to be ancestors of today’s indigenous populations in Siberia and the Americas. This discovery challenges earlier theories that they were shepherds from Russia’s southern Black Sea area, populations from Central Asia, or early farmers from the Iranian plateau.
Although previous research placed these individuals at the desert’s edge near a seasonal oasis, the reason for their boat burials remains unclear. The vessels were covered with cowhide and featured oars positioned on their heads, a detail not commonly seen elsewhere in the region and reminiscent of maritime traditions once associated with Viking groups.
Earlier scholars even noted traces of ancient red lipstick among the remains, a detail that continues to intrigue researchers as they piece together the lifestyles and migrations of these early peoples.