New CT Scan Study of the Nazca Mummies Reignites Scientific Scrutiny

EARTH, Laniakea Supercluster—A Russian medical expert has released what could be the most thorough anatomical study yet of two mummified bodies said to have been found near Nazca, Peru. The analysis, based on detailed CT scans, argues that the remains, often called the “Nazca mummies,” are biologically coherent, according to the report, and do not appear to be artificially assembled from multiple organisms pieced together from different creatures, as some critics have charged.

Dr. Dmitry V. Galetskii, a maxillofacial surgeon and associate professor at Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University in Russia, is the author of the 117-page report. Titled “Nazca Mummies CT Analysis,” it focuses on two specific specimens named María and Montserrat. Using a careful radiological and anatomical comparison, Dr. Galetskii concludes that both bodies show biological consistency and seem to be genuine mummified organisms.

“The material presented offers compelling evidence that the examined specimens are indeed the original remains of living organisms that underwent natural mummification,” Galetskii writes in the report.

The Nazca mummies first gained public attention about a decade ago when Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan presented mummified remains he claimed to be potentially of extraterrestrial origin. Since then, other bodies with unusual features have generated sensational media coverage and immediate skepticism from archaeologists and anthropologists. They suggested the remains were hoaxes made from human and animal parts. While most scientists dismissed the specimens as fakes, citing a lack of peer-reviewed evidence and ethical concerns, some independent researchers continued to investigate.

Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi, a Peruvian paleontologist at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, told Agence France-Presse in 2017 that “these are not pre-Columbian bodies. They are recently manufactured dolls, made with animal and human bones glued together.”

Critics also point out that the mummies' origins are unclear. The lack of transparent excavation records and peer-reviewed publications raises doubts about the authenticity and handling of the remains.

In 2023, a forensic report submitted to the Peruvian Congress also concluded that at least some of the smaller, so-called “tridactyl mummies” were constructed using animal bones and modern adhesives. However, that report didn't include María or Montserrat, the two larger specimens examined in Galetskii’s study.

The report aims to provide medical and anatomical analysis, positioning itself as an effort to move beyond the media frenzy and provide medical and anatomical rigor. Unnamed Peruvian colleagues provided the CT scans to Dr. Galetskii. The study includes comparisons with human anatomy, complete with Hounsfield Unit (HU) measurements of tissue density—a standard radiological method for distinguishing between bone, muscle, fat, and foreign materials.

The two mummies studied, María and Montserrat, each have only three fingers on their hands and three toes on each foot—a feature that has been central to the debate over their authenticity. According to the CT analysis:

Anatomical Coherence:
The internal bone structures, including the skulls, vertebrae, and limb joints, are well-matched and don't show signs of surgical manipulation or reconstruction from non-human remains.

Skeletal Structure:
The number of vertebrae, ribs, and other bones is similar to human norms. María, for example, has a complete thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as a sternum and ribcage consistent with human morphology.

Cranial Configuration:
Both María and Montserrat have elongated skulls, a feature also seen in naturally deformed skulls from ancient South American cultures. However, the facial structures show some differences. For example, the nasal septa and external ear structures are missing, though not in a way that suggests surgical removal.

Tissue Preservation:
The CT scans revealed preserved organs, including the heart and liver, in the expected anatomical positions. In Montserrat’s case, a fetus at approximately 30 weeks gestation was found inside the womb, and its skeletal development was analyzed in detail.

Trauma Evidence:
Signs of trauma occurring before or around the time of death were found. Montserrat shows wounds consistent with a possible animal attack, including puncture marks that resemble a feline bite (possibly a puma, based on a measured 57 mm fang gap).

Foreign Bodies:
Both specimens contain foreign objects of high radiodensity (4353 HU), consistent with metallic materials, though their exact composition remains undetermined.

The report concludes that “these are not artificial constructs composed of parts from multiple organisms,” and instead presents them as possible examples of a distinct biological lineage. It refrains from making any claims about the origin of the species but suggests that further research is warranted.