A recent study published in the Nature journal has narrowed down the origins of mysterious mummies discovered in the deserts of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Dating back between 4,800 and 5,000 years ago, the oldest human remains found in the region have been closely examined, alongside genetic data from individuals dating to around 3000–2800 BCE from the Dzungarian Basin and 13 individuals dating to around 2100–1700 BCE from the Tarim Basin, representing North and South Xinjiang, respectively.

Hundreds of bodies have been excavated from cemeteries around the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. Credit: Wenying Li / Xinjiang Insтιтute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

Contrary to previous hypotheses suggesting origins from various distant regions such as the Afanasievo or the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex, the study reveals unexpected findings. The Early Bronze Age Dzungarian individuals display primarily Afanasievo ancestry with local contributions, while the Early–Middle Bronze Age Tarim individuals exhibit solely local ancestry.

Moreover, the Tarim mummies, notably those from the site of Xiaohe, show strong evidence of milk proteins in their dental calculus, indicating a reliance on dairy pastoralism since the site’s inception. This challenges earlier ᴀssumptions about their cultural practices and origins.

Dr. Christina Warinner, a study author and professor of Anthropology at Harvard University and research group leader at the Max Planck Insтιтute for Evolutionary Anthropology, said in a statement: “Despite being genetically isolated, the Bronze Age peoples of the Tarim Basin were remarkably culturally cosmopolitan.”

The study challenges previous theories about the origins of the mummies. While previous theories speculated on their origins as Proto-Tocharian-speaking pastoralists or migrants from various distant cultures, the genetic evidence suggests otherwise. The earliest Tarim Basin cultures seem to have arisen from a genetically isolated local population, which gradually adopted neighboring pastoralist and agriculturalist practices. This allowed them to thrive along the shifting riverine oases of the Taklamakan Desert.

The mummified remains were remarkably well preserved, with some still sporting clothing and hair. Credit: Wenying Li / Xinjiang Insтιтute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

By providing genomic data from ancient individuals, the research offers valuable insights into the complex history of this region in Inner Asia. In addition to their genetic isolation, these ancient inhabitants of the Tarim Basin displayed remarkable cultural adaptation, incorporating elements of neighboring societies while maintaining their distinct idenтιтy.

Their reliance on dairy pastoralism, cultivation of nonnative crops like wheat and millet, and use of irrigation systems illustrate their innovative strategies for survival in a challenging environment.

More information: Zhang, F., Ning, C., Scott, A. et al. (2021). The genomic origins of the Bronze Age Tarim Basin mummies. Nature 599, 256–261. Doi:10.1038/s41586-021-04052-7