Scientists have revealed the secret of the origin of the 15-centimeter skeleton of the "alien"

Strange finds are always surrounded by mystery and mysticism. A tiny mummy with a pointed cone-like skull, oblique eye sockets and ten ribs has puzzled scientists for many years. It was found in the Chilean Atacama Desert and named "Ata". There were many theories about the origin of the unusual skeleton, most researchers agreed that it was an alien. But recently, scientists have shed light on the true history of the remains. Find out who they actually belonged to from our material.

Mysterious remains were found in the Atacama Desert in 2003. After examining the bones, the experts came to the conclusion that they belong to a 6 – to 8-year-old child. The mummy was discovered by treasure hunter Oscar Muño. She was in an abandoned church in the deserted mining town of La Noria.

The skeleton was wrapped in a white cloth, tied with a pink ribbon and hidden in a leather bag. At first glance, it was impossible to understand what was inside.

A long cone-like skull, oblique eye sockets and fewer ribs than in a normal person — 10 pairs instead of 12 - caused many incredible assumptions about the origin of the remains. Ufologists immediately began to study the place where they were found. Some suggested that the skeleton belonged to an alien or a member of a special tribe.

At first, scientists considered the mummy an object of antiquity. But analyses made in 2012 showed that it dates back to the 1970s. There were no official assumptions about whose remains these were. Even more mysticism was added to the mysterious skeleton by the fact that its DNA was not human by 8%. This gave a new impetus to rumors that the bones belong to an alien creature.

In 2018, a group of scientists managed to refute theories about the extraterrestrial origin of the mummy. The results of research conducted at the best universities in San Francisco and California showed that the creature died 40 years ago. It suffered from several genetic diseases that slowed its growth. Experts have found signs of dwarfism and other bone diseases.

It is believed that the skeleton belongs to a premature baby or a female infant who died immediately after birth. Garry Nolan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine, is confident that the study of Ata's remains will benefit patients. The mummy can give clues that will help people with genetic growth problems.

Dr. Nolan began researching the mysterious skeleton in 2012. One of his colleagues told him that he may have discovered the remains of an alien. For a long time, the skeleton was kept in a private collection in Spain without any charges of illegal acquisition. Spanish scientists have asked the Government of Chile to investigate the incident.

No one knows who buried a little girl near a church in an abandoned town. It is not known whether she was born alive, but she was treated with love and care in the last minutes of her life. The baby's body was carefully wrapped in a white cloth and tied with a ribbon. Perhaps her mother is still alive. The researchers of the remains do not deny that the relatives of the girl from La Noria will be found.

Despite the cautious attitude towards death, there are remains that people have been looking at for years. Some of them were mummified naturally, others - on purpose.