Mummies originated in multiple places independently, with the earliest known examples arising in different cultures as early as several thousand years BCE. The concept of "real" mummies—deliberately preserved bodies—appears in several regions, each with its own timeline and techniques. Key origins by region and timeframe

• Egypt: The most famous ancient mummification tradition began in prehistoric times and became highly developed during the Pharaonic period (roughly 2600–30 BCE). Early natural desiccation in hot, dry environments likely contributed to some mummies, with sophisticated artificial embalming techniques developing later. This long-running practice became emblematic of ancient Egyptian culture.

• Tarim Basin (Xinjiang, China): Bronze Age mummies discovered in the Tarim Basin date from about 2000 BCE to 200 CE. Genomic studies suggest they were an indigenous population with deep Asian roots, challenging earlier assumptions that they represented distant Western (Indo-European) migrant groups. Their preservation results from the desert climate, and they have sparked debate about ancient population movements along trans-Eurasian routes.

• Chinchorro mummies (Chile): Some of the oldest known artificially mummified remains in the world, dating to as early as around 7000 BCE, created by the Chinchorro culture along the Pacific coast of northern Chile. These were deliberately prepared bodies, predating Egyptian mummies by thousands of years in terms of artificial preservation.

• Other regions with mummy traditions: Various cultures around the world practiced forms of desiccation, natural or artificial preservation, including parts of Europe, the Andes, and parts of Asia. However, the most extensively documented and traditionally recognized “mummies” come from Egypt, the Tarim Basin, and the Chinchorro culture.

What this means for the question

• There isn’t a single point of origin for all “real” mummies. Instead, deliberate preservation techniques emerged independently in multiple civilizations, with Egypt, the Tarim Basin, and the Chinchorro culture among the earliest and most studied examples. Each tradition reflects local environmental conditions, materials, beliefs about death, and social practices.

If you’d like, I can narrow this to a specific region or timeframe (for example, “earliest artificial mummification in Egypt vs. South America”) and provide a concise timeline with key methods and notable discoveries.