The Nazca “Tridactyl Mummies”: Institutional Context, Claims, and Archaeological Concerns

Since around 2016, a group of unusual mummified figures popularly referred to as the “Peruvian tridactyls” has circulated widely in alternative media, frequently framed as evidence of non-human or even extraterrestrial beings. These claims have attracted considerable public attention, but they sit in sharp tension with the assessments of mainstream archaeological, forensic, and bioanthropological experts.

The specimens most often cited in these discussions were reportedly delivered in 2019 to the Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga (UNSLG) in Ica, Peru, where some form of study has been ongoing since that time. Preliminary examinations and imaging have also been carried out by researchers or laboratories in several other countries, including France, Russia, Mexico, the United States, and Switzerland. Despite this international involvement, the research has largely remained outside established peer-reviewed academic channels.

In September and November 2023, two tridactyl specimens were presented in bizarre hearings before the Mexican Congress, and in November 2024, before the Peruvian Congress.

Discovery and Provenance

According to accounts provided by those promoting the finds, the mummies were discovered around 2015–2016 in a cave or tunnel system somewhere in the Nazca–Palpa region of southern Peru. This area is archaeologically significant, best known for the Nazca culture and the Nazca Lines. Crucially, however, the precise location of discovery has never been publicly disclosed, nor has any controlled archaeological excavation been documented. This absence of secure provenance is one of the central reasons archaeologists regard the specimens with deep skepticism.

Multiple reports indicate that the figures were obtained through looting rather than excavation. They are said to originate from a group of huaqueros (tomb raiders) operating out of Palpa. Thierry Jamin of the Inkari-Cusco Institute, himself involved in research on the objects, has stated that the individual leading the group, known publicly only as “Mario”, is a long-time looter known to regional authorities. If accurate, this context alone places the assemblage outside acceptable archaeological practice and raises serious ethical and legal concerns.

Number and Nature of the Specimens

Promoters of the tridactyl mummies have cited varying numbers, ranging from a dozen individuals to as many as 25 or 30 “beings” of different sizes. Images and scans circulated online show small humanoid figures with elongated skulls and three-fingered hands and feet, often coated in a white powdery substance (diatomaceous earth) that for some reason researchers have been reluctant to remove..

Peruvian forensic specialists and archaeologists, however, have repeatedly concluded that at least some of the seized specimens are dolls or figurines rather than intact mummies. Analyses conducted by Peru’s Institute for Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences found that certain examples were constructed from a mixture of human and animal bones, paper, and modern synthetic adhesives, assembled to create an artificial tridactyl appearance. DNA analysis of at least one hand reportedly indicated that it came from a male human.

Scientific Consensus versus Alternative Claims

The prevailing scientific consensus is that the tridactyl figures represent deliberate fabrications, likely incorporating looted human mummy parts. Several Peruvian mummy specialists have argued that real hands, feet, or other anatomical elements were modified (with bones rearranged or removed) and then  artificially coated with a white substance to conceal tool marks and joins. A collective statement by a group of Peruvian researchers condemned these practices, noting that they violate numerous national and international norms governing the treatment of human remains.

This position has been reinforced by the Peruvian World Congress on Mummy Studies, which has described the ongoing promotion of the objects as an “irresponsible organized campaign of misinformation.”

In contrast, a small group of researchers and media figures (most prominently Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan) maintain that the bodies are authentic and possibly represent a previously unknown non-human species. They cite CT scans, X-rays, and selective DNA analyses as evidence of anomalous features, such as unusual fingerprints or supposed metal implants. These claims, however, have not been substantiated through transparent methodologies or peer-reviewed publication, and they are generally dismissed by specialists in archaeology, forensic anthropology, and paleopathology.

Broader Implications

Beyond the question of authenticity, the Nazca tridactyl controversy highlights a recurring problem in archaeology: the damage caused by looting, sensationalism, and the circulation of uncontextualized remains. Whether assembled as hoaxes or misrepresented through speculative interpretation, the use of real human remains in this manner represents a serious ethical breach. It undermines scientific understanding of the past and contributes to the ongoing destruction of Peru’s archaeological heritage.

In this sense, the tridactyl mummies are less a mystery of unknown beings than a cautionary example of how archaeology can be distorted when provenance, peer review, and ethical standards are ignored.