The Tarim mummies are a series of mummies discovered in the Tarim Basin in prese nt-day Xinjiang, China, which

date from 1900 BCE to 200 CE. Some of the mummies are frequently associated with the presence of the Indo-European Tocharian langu ages in the Tarim Basin, although the evidence is not totally conclusive. Research into the subject has attracted controversy, due to ethnic tensions in m odern day Xinjiang. There have been concerns whether DNA results could affect cl aims by Uyghur peoples of being indigenous to the region. In comparing the DNA o f the mummies to that of modern day Uyghur peoples, Victor H. Mair s team found so me genetic similarities with the mummies, but no direct links, stating that moder n DNA and ancient DNA show that Uighurs, Kazaks, Krygyzs, the peoples of Central Asia are all mixed Caucasian and East Asian the modern and ancient DNA tell the same story. He concludes that the mummies are Caucasoid, likely speakers of an In do-European language; that East Asian peoples began showing up in the eastern por tions of the Tarim Basin about 3,000 years ago while the Uighur peoples arrived a fter the collapse of the Orkon Uighur Kingdom, largely based in modern day Mongo lia, around the year 842.