The Tarim Mummies
Preserved bodies revealing ancient Central Asian migrations.
They are significant for their exceptional preservation due to the arid desert environment and for the genetic and archaeological insights they provide into ancient populations of Central Asia. The earliest mummies belonged to an agropastoral population that lived around 2000 BCE in a now-desertified freshwater environment.
- Location
- Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China
- Genetic profile (early)
- ~72% Ancient North Eurasian, ~28% Ancient Northeast Asian
- Notable mummies
- Chärchän man, Hami Mummy, Witches of Subeshi
- Key haplogroup (early males)
- R1b1b-PH155, R1-PF6136; later R-M17
Lore & Background
The Tarim mummies were first recounted by European explorers such as Sven Hedin, Albert von Le Coq, and Sir Aurel Stein in the early 20th century. Most were found on the eastern end of the Tarim Basin, including areas around Lopnur, Subeshi near Turpan, Loulan, and Kumul, or along the southern edge near Khotan, Niya, and Cherchen. Notable examples include the tall, red-haired 'Chärchän man' (c. Many mummies retain intact hair ranging from blond to red to deep brown, and their textiles include red twill tunics and tartan leggings.
Reader's Guide
The Tarim mummies are crucial for understanding the peopling of Central Asia. Genetic studies, particularly Zhang et al. (2021), revealed that the earliest mummies (c. Later Bronze Age inhabitants (c. Iron Age mummies (1st millennium BCE), such as those of the Subeshi culture, closely resemble the Saka Pazyryk culture. The mummies' textiles, including diagonal twill patterns, show similarities to European Bronze Age textiles, suggesting early technological links. Their preservation has allowed detailed study of clothing, tattoos, and even surgical sutures, providing a window into ancient life in the Tarim Basin.
Did You Know?
- A mummy from Subeshi had a surgical incision on his abdomen sewn with horsehair sutures.
- Genetic analysis of early mummies showed about 72% Ancient North Eurasian ancestry and 28% Ancient Northeast Asian ancestry.
- The 'Witches of Subeshi' wore two-foot-long black felt conical hats with flat brims.
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