Peru’s attorney general’s office has confirmed that two mummified remains, dubbed ‘alien mummies’ by their discoverer, are actually human remains made into dolls. Multiple independent analyses found the remains were assembled using bones, clay, and other materials. The sensational case captured international attention when the ‘mummies’ were displayed in Mexico and promoted as evidence of extraterrestrial life.
Background on the ‘Alien Mummies’
In 2018, a trove of mysterious mummies was found in a tomb near Nazca, Peru by Thierry Jamin, a French adventurer and head of a group called Inkari-Cusco Research Center. Jamin dubbed the remains ‘alien mummies’ and claimed DNA analysis proved they were not human.
The mummies vary in size, with the largest over 6 feet tall. They have unusually long, narrow skulls and only three long, skinny fingers on each hand. Their discoverer highlighted these features as proof they were extraterrestrial beings.
In 2021 and 2022, Jamin displayed the mummies at exhibits in Mexico and promoted them in media appearances as definitive evidence of intelligent alien life visiting ancient Peru. The displays drew large, enthusiastic crowds. Many were convinced the mummies offered proof of extraterrestrial contact with ancient human civilizations.
Recent Analyses Debunk ‘Alien’ Theory
After the exaggerated alien claims sparked international interest, Peruvian authorities intervened at the request of the country’s Ministry of Culture. In June 2022, police seized two of the mummies from a hotel exhibit in Lima.
Following the seizures, both mummies underwent extensive study by teams of forensic archaeologists, physical anthropologists, and other scientists assembled by Peruvian officials. The two independent analyses definitively concluded the ‘alien mummies’ were actually human remains artificially assembled into bizarre forms.
Key findings from the studies include:
- The skulls and bones originated from various human mummies, mainly ancient Peruvian peoples.
- The highly elongated and flattened skulls were most likely produced using head-binding, a practice used in certain ancient Andean cultures.
- The skin, internal organs, and smallSTATURE were fabrications made from clay, stones, animal bones and skin, wood, and other materials bound together with adhesives and a mesh-like material.
- The three-fingered hands were modeled from wood, stones, clay, and animal bones.
Both scientific teams determined the mummies were fabricated by altering actual ancient human remains to create “dolls” mimicking alien features. The researchers suggested the fabrications were recent and that commercial interests probably motivated their creation and sensational alien claims.
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| A CT scan of one of the mummies analyzed, showing the mix of human bones, clay, and other materials used in its fabrication. (Photo: Peruvian Attorney General’s Office) |
Reactions to the Investigation Findings
The scientific conclusions debunking the mummies as aliens were endorsed by Peru’s Ministry of Culture and disseminated through an official statement on January 12th, 2023. Reactions came quickly from many sectors.
Scientists and scholars welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that careful analysis is required to study unusual archaeological finds scientifically instead of promoting fantastic theories without evidence. Some voiced concerns that exploiting ancient cultural artifacts to manufacture evidence fosters misinformation and pseudoscience.
UFO enthusiasts and alien believers often disputed the findings, claiming a government cover-up of evidence the mummies were extraterrestrial beings. Some charged that Peruvian authorities intervened solely to reclaim culturally valuable artifacts rather than reveal the “truth” about aliens making contact with ancient Peruvians. A few commenters decried science for “ruining the magic and mystery” of the mummies.
The tourism industry gave mixed reactions. While some worry the scientific conclusions could dampen enthusiasm for supernatural-themed tourism, others expect continued interest and see opportunities to develop historical tours focusing on the methods of fabrication. Head mummy discoverer Thierry Jamin maintained the human origins do not rule out theories that extraterrestrials genetically engineered ancient humans.
Indigenous Peruvian groups welcomed the repatriation of ancestral remains that were exploited for financial gain. However, leaders caution that mere return of the items does not address ongoing issues around profits from cultural artifacts bypassing indigenous communities.
What Happens Next with Peru’s ‘Alien Mummies’
Although extraterrestrial origins were ruled out by extensive forensic study, the intriguing mummies will continue sparking discussion and attracting interest.
Authorities in Peru are working to develop museums and educational programs focused on the mummies and what they reveal about human societies and beliefs in different eras. As Julio Navarro, head of Peru’s Ministry of Culture, asserts: “While not extraterrestrial, these anomalous remains offer insights into the practice of artificially modifying human remains that appears across ancient civilizations globally…they provide opportunities to correct sensationalism with history, science, and cultural understanding.”
With government scientists having access to the mummies for further analysis, additional insights will likely be gained about materials and methods used in embalming practices and burial rituals in different ancient Andean cultures. Continued research may shed light on when and why such elaborate fabrication of mummies with three long fingers and elongated heads emerged.
The personal motives behind the initial discovery and promotion of “alien” theories remain uncertain. While commercial interests likely played a key role, discoverer Thierry Jamin maintains his belief that extraterrestrials had contact with ancient Peru and that an elaborate government cover-up hides the full truth. Some die-hard supernatural enthusiasts agree, but skeptics urge more critical examination of such claims.
While the modern origins and material reality of Peru’s mummies may not align with popular sci-fi fantasies, their strange forms will continue inspiring the human imagination. Their story highlights how the urge to sensationalize the past for fame and money persists through generations. Yet it also shows science’s role in grounding extraordinary claims and bringing human stories of ingenuity, culture, beliefs and imagination back down to Earth.
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