What are they?
The Nazca Mummies are a collection of ancient bodies discovered in the Nazca region of Peru. Unearthed in a series of underground tunnels in 2015, these mummies were found near the Nazca Lines, famous for their geoglyphs.
How were they discovered?
In 2015, a Peruvian huaquero (grave robber) discovered three mummies ranging from 40cm to 61cm in length while searching through caves near the Nazca Lines. The grave robber, who happened to be friends with a doctor at the University of Inka in Lima, Peru, sold the specimens to the doctor for research purposes.
How old are they?
Carbon-14 dating has been performed on multiple specimens. While the age varies among the samples, the results generally indicate a range between 750 CE and 1,300 CE.
Why are they covered in white powder?
The bodies are covered in a white powder because they were buried in diatomaceous earth. This natural, powdery substance is known for its moisture-absorbing qualities, which helped preserve the mummies by drawing moisture away from the bodies and creating a dry environment that inhibits decay and bacterial growth.
Is Jaime Maussan a hoaxer?
Jaime Maussan, a Mexican journalist and ufologist known for hosting the TV show "Tercer Milenio," has a polarizing reputation within the paranormal community. While he commands a dedicated following, critics have accused him of promoting unverified and occasionally debunked stories. However, despite instances where material he showcased was later identified as hoaxes or misinterpretations, there is no evidence to suggest that Maussan is a hoaxer who deliberately fabricates stories. His interest appears to lie in exploring and presenting anomalous phenomena to his audience, as exemplified by his involvement in the Nazca Mummies case starting in 2017, two years after their initial discovery.
Are they glued together animal bones?
Multiple intact bodies have been subjected to X-ray, CT scan, and fluoroscopy imaging. The results consistently demonstrate that the skeletal structures are complete and undamaged, without any evidence of dissection or reassembly. Once a bone has been severed, it is not possible to reconstruct it into a cohesive form without leaving clear indications of the alterations, which would be readily apparent in the imaging studies.
Where did the fake bodies and debunk story originated from?
In short, the fake bodies were brought to the Cultural Ministry of Peru by Paul "Krawix" Ronceros, who had stated the objects he was presenting had been altered. These objects were then studied by a group of researchers lead by Flavio Estrada. His team later came to the conclusion that the bodies were "cobbled together with glue, animal bones, and various other materials". They presented their findings and these were sensationalized by a person going by the name "Luca McLovin" who claimed to be part of a group called "Sociedad Secular Humanista de Peru". He wrote the first articles spreading information from Estrada's analysis. Later on, these articles were caught by a group called "Anthropogenz.ru" from which their editor, Alexander Sokolov, later went on to make the famous debunk video from his YouTube channel "Scientists Against Myths". The information in this video is what most people used as "proof" that the bodies were fabricated.
How can you be sure Peru studied the wrong bodies?
During a lawsuit launched back in 2023 against the Cultural Ministry of Peru, Flavio Estrada was forced to testify and was left no other choice but to admit he had never seen, interacted with, nor performed any sort of analysis on the real bodies. This lawsuit has been expanded to now be upwards of $300m against Peru and their Ministry of Culture, for defamation against the scientists from Maussan's team and Maussan himself. This includes the participation of the current head of the Ministry of Culture, Leslie Urteaga, whose action allowed the global proliferation of the slander against the real bodies and the scientists studying them. This is further worsened by their admission to have omitted the fact that the person who brought the objects to them, had stated that those were artisanal objects. The $300m from the lawsuit will be used to fund the construction of a museum in the Palpa and Nazca regions in benefit of the people of Peru and all of humanity, as requested by the plaintiff, Jaime Maussan.