Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Study Links Ancient Hanging Coffins to Modern Bo People
Scientists have found a special connection between ancient people who buried their dead in hanging coffins and a group of people living today called the Bo.
They studied the DNA of old bones and compared them to modern Bo people.
The results show that the Bo people are related to those ancient hanging coffin users.
The study also found that these ancient people had connections with other groups in Southeast Asia a long time ago.
This helps us understand more about the history and culture of the Bo people and their unique way of burying their dead.
The scientists think that by studying more bones and artifacts, they can learn even more about this interesting tradition.
Researchers analyzed the genomes of 11 ancient individuals from hanging coffin sites in China and 30 modern Bo people.
The study found a direct genetic connection between ancient hanging coffin practitioners and today's Bo people.
Both ancient and modern groups are related to coastal Neolithic populations in Southeast Asia.
The research suggests long-distance cultural and social contacts between Northeast Asian and Yellow River agricultural communities and hanging coffin groups over 1,200 years ago.
Shared genetic relationships were found between hanging coffin communities in China and log coffin communities in Thailand, indicating a common origin and broader cultural network.
- Who
- Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their colleagues
- What
- A study revealing genetic connections between ancient hanging coffin practitioners and modern Bo people
- When
- The study was conducted recently, with findings published in a report
- Where
- China and Thailand
- Why
- To understand the origins and cultural significance of the hanging coffin tradition and its connection to modern communities
- Ancient Individuals Studied
- 11
- Modern Bo Individuals Studied
- 30
- Study Locations
- China and Thailand
- Time Period of Cultural Contacts
- More than 1,200 years ago
- Related Modern Groups
- Tai-Kadai and Austronesian-speaking communities