Three-fingered 'alien mummies' uncovered in Peru have largely been dismissed as a hoax by the scientific community, but a new study has suggested otherwise.
A recent imaging analysis on one of the humanoids named 'Maria' found it has biological similarities to that of a human - but with 'many morphological and anatomical structural differences.'
The creature's bones were observed to flow smoothly under the mummified casing, in a way that is found throughout the human body, and its elongated skull showed no signs ofartificial cranial deformation.
The team was also able to date the mummy to between 240AD and 383AD, 'indicating its coexistence with the ancient Nazca civilization,' they shared in the study.
Three-fingered ' alien mummies' uncovered in Peru have largely been dismissed as a hoax by the scientific community, but a new study has suggested otherwise. A new study analyzed one of the mummies named Maria
Maria, labeled M01, was one of six mummies found inside the tomb in Nazca, a city in southern Peru in 2017 - a nine-month-old child and four males were also uncovered.
Journalist and ufologist Jaime Maussan found the mummies and has paraded many of them in front of Mexico's Congress, claiming they are alien beings that once walked on Earth.
While Maussan has not waivered with his story, experts are sure the mummies are nothing more than dolls manipulated by grave robbers.
In 2018, one year after the discovery was announced,scientists concluded from at least four independent analyses of DNA samples and other mummy materials that they were modified, pre-Columbian mummies.
But the claims have not stopped Maussan and other researchers in their tracks.
The latest study was conducted by a team of Peruvian researchers who performed different tests on Maria.
The team conducted magnification examination, allowing them to peer inside and see that the mummy lacked hair and external ears - it only had openings of the ear canals.
‘The most notable feature of the skull is its significant elongation, without external signs of cranial compression from external agents,’ reads the study published in the Journal of Social and Environmental Management.
‘Specifically, it is the cranial vault that shows an atypical growth and development, resembling a dolichocephalic phenotype.
‘Additionally, the cranial volume is 30 percent larger than that of a normal human.’
Scans of the internal creature revealed it had bulging eyes and protruding upper and lower jaws.
While experts have not waivered with his story, other scientists are sure the mummies are nothing more than dolls manipulated by grave robbers
The elongated skull showed no signs ofartificial cranial deformation and was30 percent larger than that of a normal human
The width of the bones in the wrist palm and base parts of the three fingers all transitioned smoothly and uniformly, which the team stated makes the hands appear as wide as that of a human - but eight inches longer
Maria was lacking six teeth and the rest were severely worn down - three wisdom teeth were also missing.
However, the team noted that ‘the most striking and unusual features of the humanoid body are found in its hands and feet.’
The width of the bones in the wrist palm and base parts of the three fingers all transitioned smoothly and uniformly, which the team stated makes the hands appear as wide as that of a human - but eight inches longer.
‘Notably, each finger of the hand has four phalanges, unlike the three phalanges in a normal human,’ researchers shared in the study.
The feet bones flowed smoothly to the three toes, and a similar width to that of a human foot but are much longer at nine inches.
‘At the level of the toes, there are also four phalanges observed in each of the three toes, whereas in normal humans there are typically only three phalanges per toe,’ the study reads.
Compared to a normal human foot, Maria’s calcaneus bone, which forms the heel, shows a different shape and structure.
The imaging analysis also determined the creature suffered from arthritis in its hands and feet, along with a damaged spine
The specimen is lacking a large bump in its foot that helpshelps support the body's weight and maintain balance when standing upright on two feet. This suggested it walked hunched over in order to remain stable
Typically, human calcaneus bones have a large bump at the back that helps support the body's weight and maintain balance when standing upright on two feet.
Maria’s, however, is missing a large bump, which suggests it walked hunched over in order to remain stable.
One aspect of Maria that Maussan has proclaimed was that it was pregnant when it was mummified.
The new study found the mummy was ‘impregnated with a white powder,’ known as diatomaceous earth that is made of fossilized remains of microscopic algae.
The naturally occurring powder is not harmful to humans but is used in insecticides because it kills the insects through dehydration.
'Based on the superficial morphological and tomographic imaging analysis, it is concluded that specimen M01 is a desiccated humanoid body with a biological architecture similar to humans,' researchers wrote
The imaging analysis also determined the creature suffered from arthritis in its hands and feet, along with spinal damage.
‘Specimen M01, based on the morpho-anatomical features of its pelvic bone structure, is compatible with a gynecoid pelvis and would correspond to a female individual,’ researchers wrote.
‘However, at the cranial level, it exhibits android features (typically male), characterized by prominent cranial protuberances such as the glabella, external occipital protuberance, mastoid processes, and notably thick cranial bones.
‘Based on the superficial morphological and tomographic imaging analysis, it is concluded that specimen M01 is a desiccated humanoid body with a biological architecture similar to humans, yet exhibiting numerous structural differences and morphological and anatomical singularities.’
