'Alien' Corpses in Mexico Revealed as Hoax—Made From Animal Bones and Glue

A bizarre claim about 'alien' corpses presented to the Mexican congress last year has now been exposed as a hoax. The so-called extraterrestrial remains were in fact dolls crafted from animal bones and modern glue. Their origins trace back to Peru's Nazca region, where looting of ancient artifacts remains a persistent issue. In September 2023, Mexican journalist and UFO enthusiast Jaime Maussan displayed two small, mummified bodies before lawmakers, insisting they were non-human. Archaeologist Flavio Estrada later examined the specimens and confirmed they were fabricated dolls, not alien remains. The discovery of their true nature raised concerns over how such items left Peru in the first place.

The dolls were originally unearthed in Nazca, a region famous for its salt flats that naturally preserve human remains. Leandro Rivera, the man who found the cavern containing the bodies, admitted to removing around 200 sets of remains from the site. Public records suggest these artifacts were smuggled to destinations including Mexico, the US, and Europe. Peru's head of cultural heritage recovery, Evelyn Centurion, warned that looting has not slowed down. She called for stronger cooperation from local authorities to curb illegal excavations. In response, the government is forming a task force to target looters and pushing for harsher penalties. The case highlights the broader global issue of ancient artifact smuggling, which continues to threaten archaeological sites worldwide.

The debunked 'alien' hoax has drawn attention to the ongoing theft of Peru's cultural heritage. Authorities are now stepping up efforts to recover stolen artifacts and prevent further smuggling. The incident also serves as a reminder of the challenges in protecting archaeological sites from exploitation.