What is the Atacama Skeleton, and why has it stirred so much debate?

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In 2003, a small skeleton was unearthed in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It was originally interred in the abandoned town of La Noria, measuring a mere 6 inches, or 15 centimeters, in length.

The skull's top features a distinctive conical shape, and it has fewer ribs — only 10 pairs — compared to the 24 ribs (12 pairs) typically found in humans.

Many UFO enthusiasts worldwide believed the remains belonged to a tiny alien, while others speculated they might belong to a nonhuman primate. This specimen, often referred to as the "Atacama skeleton" or simply "Ata," quickly became internationally known.

In the 2010s, genetic testing confirmed that the remains were definitively human, debunking the various rumors and theories surrounding its origin.

While the debate has been settled, Ata's story raises significant ethical issues. It is highly likely that the body was obtained and sold illegally, a concern raised by several scientific organizations in Chile.

Clicking on this icon toggles the visibility of the section. The arrow rotates depending on the state. You can find more about how the Atacama Desert plays a role in mummification here.

Stretching across approximately 40,500 square miles (around 105,000 square kilometers), the Atacama Desert lies between the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range. It's the driest desert outside the polar regions, which makes it ideal for preserving human remains.

Arthur C. Aufderheide, in his book "The Scientific Study of Mummies," elaborates on how bodies buried in the Atacama often become naturally mummified due to the environment's unique conditions.

However, not all the mummies found in this desert are a result of nature's processes. The Chinchorro people of ancient times practiced an intricate embalming technique to mummify their dead intentionally.

La Noria, a town in the desert that became the final resting place for many, was founded near rich nitrate deposits, which were a valuable resource at the time. Before the town was abandoned in the 1930s, the local residents extracted and shipped the nitrate by rail.

In a 2018 article for Etilmercucio, a Chilean publication focused on science outreach, biologist Cristina Dorador provided a vivid and unflinching portrayal of daily life in La Noria.

She described the harsh realities faced by the workers and their families, including the highest solar radiation levels on Earth, severe water shortages, sweltering daytime heat, freezing nighttime temperatures, and poor sanitary conditions. "As might be expected, child mortality was staggeringly high," she wrote.

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In 2003, the mysterious remains of Ata were found and came into the hands of treasure hunter Óscar Muñoz.

Most reports suggest he uncovered the body at a burial site in La Noria, though some accounts claim it was discovered resting on a shelf inside one of the abandoned buildings in the town.

At some point, the Atacama skeleton was purchased by Ramón Navia-Osorio, a Spanish entrepreneur and private collector. In addition to his business ventures, he serves as the president of the Institute for Research and Exobiological Studies, a leading organization dedicated to the study of UFO phenomena.

In 2009, Navia-Osorio met renowned ufologist Steven M. Greer at a conference. Greer, who has advocated for the U.S. government to release information regarding alleged extraterrestrial research, received permission to extract a bone marrow sample from Ata's remains.

The idea was to analyze the sample taken from the Atacama alien for the documentary "Sirius," a film inspired by Greer's writings on extraterrestrial life.

At that point, microbiologist Garry Nolan, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, learned about the project. Intrigued by a promotional image of the Atacama skeleton, he reached out to Greer.

"I reached out to the filmmakers (essentially on a dare ...) to suggest that it might be possible to sequence the specimen’s DNA (if it contained terrestrial DNA ...) to trace its origins," Nolan told CNN.

Click here to toggle the visibility of the section about Ata's genome and the fascinating research behind it.

In 2013, the public received a glimpse into Nolan's groundbreaking research when Science magazine published an article on his team's initial findings. He revealed, "The DNA was modern, abundant and high-quality." He further confirmed that, based on the research, the Atacama skeleton is unquestionably human.

After much anticipation, their full study was published on March 22, 2018, in the journal Genome Research.

Genomes are the unique genetic blueprints found in all living organisms. Using a marrow sample from Greer, Nolan and his team conducted an extensive whole genome analysis of the Atacama skeleton.

When they compared Ata's genetic data with that of various primates, including chimpanzees, rhesus macaques, and of course, Homo sapiens, it was clear the specimen was human. Further chromosome analysis confirmed that Ata is a female human fetus, most likely having died in the womb.

But how can we explain the striking appearance of Ata's body?

The study highlighted several genetic mutations that could explain Ata's unusual features, such as her cone-shaped head and rib cage. Additionally, Nolan's team suggested that her bones might have aged prematurely due to another mutation.

The researchers speculated, "Given the size of the specimen and the severity of the mutations ... it seems likely the specimen was a preterm birth," as noted in their 2018 Genome Research paper.

Click to learn more about the ethical considerations and legal concerns surrounding this discovery in the section titled "Broken Laws and the Ethics of Science."

In several respects, Ata's skeleton is surprisingly young. Her DNA is remarkably well-preserved, and based on what we know about the rate at which DNA deteriorates, it's clear that Ata is no older than 500 years. In fact, she may have passed away within the last few decades.

So, there's a decent chance that one or both of her parents are still around today. The ethical questions begin when we imagine how either one of them might feel if they lived to see their child's body snatched, sold and then labeled as a "humanoid" by UFO gurus.

One also has to wonder about how they'd react to scientists drawing international attention to what was, for all we know, a private family tragedy.

The 2018 Genome Research paper faced a swift public outcry. Less than a week after the document was published, the Chilean Society of Biological Anthropology and the Chilean Association of Archaeologists both issued statements calling the study unethical.

Under Chilean law, it is illegal to "carry out archeological, anthropological or paleontological excavations" without first getting authorization from the country's Council of National Monuments. That probably didn't happen in Ata's case. Nor were any Chilean researchers involved in the Genome Research study, which became another bone of legal contention.

Some of the study's biological claims were criticized, too.

An August 2018 follow-up paper in the International Journal of Paleopathology suggests that Ata's unusual appearance might not be the result of genetic mutations. Instead, the paper proposes that parts of her skeleton may have been deformed or even lost during her birth, mummification, or burial process.

In response, Nolan and his colleague Atul Butte, from the University of San Francisco, issued a statement in defense of their research. They clarified that no one on their team physically examined or even touched the actual skeleton, and both expressed a desire for Ata to be returned and treated with "proper respect as human remains."