* Until a few years ago it was known that the most evident physical characteristic in the ancient Paracas had been cranial deformation, which used to be practiced in royal classes.
* However, recent investigations linked to his DNA have changed the course of what is known about his origin.
The deserted Paracas peninsula is located on the southern coast of one of the most enigmatic countries in South America: Peru. It is there, in this arid landscape, where a Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello made one of the most mysterious discoveries in the year 1928.
During excavations, Tello discovered a complex and sophisticated cemetery in the harsh soil of the Paracas desert.
In the enigmatic tombs, Tello discovered a series of controversial human remains that would forever change how we look at our ancestors and our origins.
The bodies in the tombs had some of the largest elongated skulls ever discovered on the planet, which they called: the Paracas skulls.
“Peruvian archaeologist discovered more than 300 mysterious skulls believed to be at least 3,000 years old.”
As if the shape of the skulls weren’t mysterious enough, a recent DNA analysis performed on some of the skulls presents some of the most enigmatic and incredible results that challenge everything we know about the human evolutionary tree and origin.
Deformation of the skull: An ancient religious practice
While various cultures around the world practiced skull deformation (elongation), the techniques used were different, meaning the results weren’t the same either.
There are certain South American tribes who ‘tied the skulls of babies’ in order to change their shape, resulting in a drastically elongated skull shape.
By applying constant pressure over a long period of time with the use of ancient tools, the tribes managed to perform cranial deformations that are also found in ancient African cultures. However, while this type of cranial deformation changed the shape of the skull, it did not alter the size, weight, or volume of the skull, all of which are characteristic features of regular human skulls.
This is precisely where the characteristics of the Paracas skulls turn out to be more interesting.
Paracas skulls are anything but ordinary.
Paracas skulls are at least 25% larger and up to 60% heavier than regular human skulls.
The researchers strongly believe that these features might not have been achieved with the techniques used by the tribes, as some scientists suggest. Not only are they different in weight, Paracas skulls are also structurally different and only have one parietal plate, whereas normal humans have two.
These strange features have added to the mystery for decades, as researchers still have no idea who these individuals with such elongated skulls once were.
The director of the Paracas History Museum sent five samples of the Paracas skulls for genetic testing, and the results were fascinating.
The samples consisting of hair, teeth, skin and some cranial bone fragments yielded incredible details that have fueled the mystery surrounding these anomalous skulls.
The genetic laboratory where the samples were sent was not previously informed of the origin of the skulls to avoid ‘influencing the results’.
Interestingly, mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited from the mother, showed mutations that were unknown to any man, primate, or animal found on planet Earth.
The mutations present in the Paracas skull samples suggest that the researchers were dealing with an entirely new ‘human being’, very different from Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans.
The people in the Paracas skulls were reportedly so biologically different that it would have been impossible for humans to interbreed with them
“I’m not sure this fits the known evolutionary tree.”
Wrote the geneticist.
Who were these mysterious beings? Did they evolve separately on earth? What caused them to have such drastic differences from ordinary human beings? And is it possible that these beings really do not hail from earth?
All of these possibilities are theories that cannot be overturned given the current evidence.
All we know so far is that there are many things that are beyond the understanding of researchers, historians, and scientists.
It is possible that after all, the question of whether we are alone in the universe can be answered thanks to the Paracas skulls.
