Short Stuff: Atacama Skeleton

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• The subject of the **Short Stuff: Atacama Skeleton** episode is a tiny, six-inch-long skeleton found in the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2003, which initially fueled speculation that it was an alien.  Copied to clipboard!
• DNA testing, spurred by ufologist Stephen Greer and conducted by Gary Nolan, conclusively proved the skeleton was human, likely a preterm baby girl with multiple genetic mutations, contradicting the alien hypothesis.  Copied to clipboard!
• The study of the remains was deemed highly unethical by Chilean anthropological and archaeological societies because the skeleton was removed from a burial site without authorization and has not yet been repatriated from its current holder in Spain.  Copied to clipboard!

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Introduction to Atacama Skeleton

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(00:01:09)

• Key Takeaway: The Atacama skeleton was discovered in 2003 in La Noria, Chile, and possesses unusual features like a conical skull and only 10 pairs of ribs.
• Summary: The skeleton, found in the Atacama Desert, is only six inches long and has an atypical skull shape. It possesses only 10 pairs of ribs, unlike the usual 12 pairs found in humans. These characteristics immediately led to speculation that the remains might be extraterrestrial.

Preservation Context of Remains

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(00:02:27)

• Key Takeaway: The Atacama Desert’s extreme aridity and the historical Chinchoro mummification traditions contribute to excellent natural preservation of remains.
• Summary: The skeleton retained desiccated flesh because the Atacama Desert is one of the driest non-polar places on Earth, which naturally mummifies remains. The area was historically a nitrate mining town abandoned in the 1930s. Furthermore, the ancient Chinchoro culture had a tradition of intentionally mummifying bodies.

Skeleton Acquisition and Ufologist Interest

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(00:04:06)

• Key Takeaway: The skeleton was found by treasure hunter Oscar Muñoz, sold to Spanish collector Ramon Navia Osorio, and subsequently brought to the attention of prominent ufologist Stephen Greer.
• Summary: Oscar Muñoz allegedly found the skeleton in La Noria in 2003, though others suggest he excavated it from a burial site. It was later sold to Ramon Navia Osorio, who was the president of a UFO enthusiast organization. Greer, a well-known ufologist, became interested in testing the remains for his documentary, Sirius.

DNA Testing and Human Identification

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(00:08:10)

• Key Takeaway: Genomic testing confirmed the Atacama skeleton was human, likely a stillborn baby girl suffering from multiple genetic mutations that caused its unusual appearance.
• Summary: Microbiologist Gary Nolan ran genomic tests on a small bone sample for Greer’s film, finding the DNA was modern, abundant, and definitively human. The findings, published in Genome Research in 2018, attributed the strange morphology to numerous genetic mutations, suggesting a preterm birth.

Ethical Controversy and Repatriation Status

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(00:11:05)

• Key Takeaway: The study was widely condemned as unethical under Chilean law, leading to calls for repatriation, though the remains remain in Spain and Greer disputes the human findings.
• Summary: Chilean anthropological and archaeological groups criticized the study as illegal because it lacked authorization from the Council of National Monuments. While Nolan’s team acknowledged the ethical lapse and agreed the remains should be returned, the skeleton is still in the possession of Ramon Navia Osorio in Spain. Stephen Greer continues to dispute the finding that the specimen is human.