The Oculate Being & The Nazca Mummies

In this report I investigate if there are any historical or archaeological records of beings similar to
the Nazca mummies presented at the Peruvian congress in 20181 and Mexican congress on
two occasions in 20232.

The Nazca mummies are a group of ancient corpses, allegedly of non-human creatures,
purportedly discovered in the famous Nazca area of Peru in or around 2017 by a group of
grave-looters (“huaqueros”) headed up by a mysterious figure named “Mario”. A number of
specimens are held at the University of Ica in Peru. The specimens include a number of full
bodies of various morphologies, and some partial remains, mostly of hands.

The specimens appear to be desiccated remains of humanoid creatures, though with

anomalous features such as tridactyl hands, metal implants, and internal ovoid solids. On some
of the specimens, the bones are arranged in ways which would not have allowed the creature to
walk or swivel their joints.

The authenticity of the specimens has been called into question. Some common challenges to
them have included: allegations that they are composed of a mixture of human and animal
bones; indications that the creatures could not have walked or moved well given their bone
structure; their questionable provenance; and the credibility of the figures/organisations involved
in promoting them.

The present report does not make any assumption as to the authenticity of the specimens. I
note that, currently, several DNA studies have been made, which have given inconclusive
results; presumably further study is ongoing from the biologists. The purpose is to look to the
archaeological evidence to see if the humans living in the area at the time these creatures
would have been alive made any record of them.

1. Summary of specimens

Before delving into the archaeology, we must briefly summarise the specimens themselves3.

Category Name Description Carbon Dating (years

old)

“Humanoid reptile” “Alberto” 60.5cm, metal implant on Not performed

right hip

“Humanoid reptile” “Josefina” 58.5cm, 4 ovoid objects in Not performed

1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2xN41immWE which I shall refer to as the “Peruvian Congress
presentation”.
2
https://m.youtube.com/live/-4xO8MW_thY?si=Rz3Iu3NhT-Nss4h9;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwZkXwuMdsw
3
Data taken from www.the-alien-project.com and the Peruvian Congress presentation.
 abdomen, oversized cranial
capacity, hollow bones,
oversized eyes, no teeth/jaw
made of plates

“Humanoid reptile” “Victoria” Headless, sitting position, 791, 1040

56cm, exposed skin

“Humanoid reptile” “The Family” A group of three small Not performed

bodies, 44-53cm

“Jamin Palpanensis” “Maria” “Human hybrid”, sitting 1750, 1771

position, oversized cranial
capacity 1.68m

Other “Wawita” Very small, sitting position, Not performed

likely mutilated, oversized
cranial capacity

Other Three-fingered Some metal implants Bone: 1,080; skin:

hands 7270

Other Mummified Oversized eyes, no ears, no Not performed

heads teeth

2. Identifying the archaeological period

Ignoring the outlier of the skin on one of the hand samples, the Nazca specimens date from a
period between 791 and 1771 years ago, or between 252 - 1231 CE.

The specimens are alleged to come from an undisclosed site described as “a few hundred
metres from the famous giant figures of Nasca”4 and near the modern-day locality of Palpa5. It
should be noted that huaqueros activity/grave-looting is extremely common in this area, and has
been an ongoing practice for centuries; until recently, it was perfectly legal for local residents to
sell archaeological items found on their own property, and the innumerable pits left by their
activities can easily be seen from the air6. Undoubtedly, many of the stunning and important
relics held by institutions around the world originated from such sources7.

The human societies living in this area during the millennium of timespan that interest us begin
with the Nazca culture, which existed between 100 BCE - 800 CE. The early Nazca culture was
heavily influenced by the preceding Paracas culture, which existed between 800 BCE - 100
BCE. Indeed, the practice of mummification of the dead in seated position, as observed in three

4
https://www.the-alien-project.com/en/ “The genesis” section.
5
Peruvian Congress presentation
6
Aveni (2000), Between the Lines, p. 54
7
I note also that these relics have been sold and re-sold on the Western antiques market for thousands of
dollars, likely many factors of magnitude more than the locals received for retrieving them.
of the specimens, originated from the Paracas. In that time, the dead were buried in tomb
shafts, seated and swathed in woven fabrics and jewellery, often of very intricate design. After
800 CE Nazca fell under the dominance of the Wari empire, which ruled over a large area of
Andean Peru for the next three hundred years and began the system of knot accounting which
is well-known for being used by the Incas. By 1231 CE, the latest potential carbon date, the
Kingdom of Cusco, precursor to the Inca empire, was in ascendance.

There is no record of a written language for these peoples. However, many well-preserved
pieces of textile and ceramic workmanship have survived and been brought to light, not in small
part due to huaquero activity.

Both the Paracas and Nazca cultures left behind a large number of ceramic artifacts. In fact, the
stylistic evolution of their pottery is used as the primary method to date sites and discoveries.
Paracas and Nazca pottery is separated into phases based on stylistic choices8. It is important
to note that these phases do not necessarily correspond to discrete periods of time, since it is
likely there was a great deal of overlap between styles9. Animal, plant, and human motifs were
all common, as well as supernatural beings.

The Paracas’ love of textiles was continued in the Wari period, of which many colourful
examples survive. The arid nature of the Nazca desert (“pampa”) lends extremely well to
preserving textiles, and many items of great craftsmanship remain to this day, with clearly
discernible designs. The Wari continued to depict similar themes to the Paracas and Nazca
before them. During the Kingdom of Cusco period, Inca styles started to dominate, with fewer
humanoid figures depicted and more geometric, abstract motifs.

Given the lack of written records, we must look to the figures and motifs preserved in pictorial
form to see if there were any contemporaneous depictions of figures similar to the Nazca
mummy specimens.

3. Distinctive features of mummies which may be recorded by humans

Before looking to see whether there are such depictions, we must identify some criteria to look
for. As the figures are essentially humanoid, the features we care about are those which differ
from the usual for humans:

● Tridactyl hands and/or feet, as seen in all of the specimens;

● Body modification in the form of metal implants, as seen in Alberto and the
three-fingered hands;
● Oversized eyes, as seen in all of the specimens except Maria;
● Oversized cranial capacity, as seen in all of the specimens;

8
Rowe and Menzel (1973 [1967]), Peruvian archaeology: selected readings. 5th ed. Peek Publications,
Palo Alto, CA
9
Patrick H. Carmichael (2016) Nasca origins and Paracas progenitors, Ñawpa Pacha, 36:2, 53-94, DOI:
10.1080/00776297.2016.1239874
 ● Production of eggs, as seen in Josefina;
● Small size/lightness, as seen in all of the specimens except Maria and the three-fingered
hands

4. Mythological/spiritual beliefs of the Nazca pampa cultures

As these creatures are purported to be non-human, it is worth looking at what we know about
the mythology and spiritual beliefs of the cultures in this area. Unfortunately, we have little
evidence of what deities may have been worshipped by these peoples. There is one figure
which there is abundant evidence of: the Oculate Being10, originating with the Paracas, later
becoming the Masked Being in Nazca culture11. For simplicity I shall refer to this figure as the
“Oculate Being” throughout.

The Oculate Being generally appears as a humanoid figure in a flying or diving pose with
recurring features/associations (see appendix 1).

The Wari culture predominantly worshipped the Staff God, a humanoid being holding three
staffs.

There is evidence of many religious practices, such as ceremonial activities at Cahuachi and
records of shamanistic activities. It is likely that some of these involved hallucinogenic
substances, as can be seen in this depiction of shaman figures holding mushrooms:

Figure 1. Detail of mantle in the collection of MFA Boston (1-100 CE).12

10
First described by Menzel et al (1964), The Paracas pottery of Ica: a study in style and time. In
University of California publications in American archaeology and ethnology, Vol. 50, pp. 1–399.
University of California Press, Berkeley.
11
Carmichael (2016)
12
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/36603/mantle
 5. Items analysed

I looked at objects which were accessible online and described in academic works I could
access. A large number of these are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the
Brooklyn Museum, and other North American institutions. I also looked at depictions in the
Nazca lines.

Given the flying nature of the Oculate Being and the allegation of non-human intelligence
relating to these figures, I focused on depictions of it but also looked at other humanoid figures.

6. Analysis of depictions

a. Similarities between the Oculate Being and the Nazca mummies

i. Oversized eyes

Generally, the Oculate Being is shown as having huge, oversized eyes. Indeed, this is why it
was so named by early researchers. For a particularly spectacular example, see the mask in the
collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art13. This feature can also be seen in the humanoid
geoglyph at Nazca14. All of the mummy specimens display this feature.

ii. Tridactyl hands and feet

The Nazca mummies all share this feature. Given this is one of the most distinctive features of
these specimens, my initial analysis involved looking to see whether depictions of the Oculate
Being showed tridactyl hands or feet.

I was surprised to find that most depictions of it do correspond. Examples are shown below.

13
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.39
14
https://hiddenincatours.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p9580-youtube-thumbnail.jpg
Figure 2. Shamelessly stolen from Carmichael (2016). Late Paracas/early Nazca. Note the
elongated fingers.

Figure 3. Also shamelessly stolen from Carmichael (2016). Late Paracas/early Nazca.
Figure 4. You guessed it… shamelessly stolen from Carmichael (2016). Late Paracas/early
Nazca.
Figures 5, 6. Rattle bowl with flying figure, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York15.
Middle-Late Paracas (350 BCE - 60 CE). Note again the length of the hands, and that the
depiction of the feline animal on the side of the bowl has four digits on each limb.

Figures 7, 8. Neckless jar with complex scene, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Middle-Late Paracas (350 BCE - 60 CE)16.

15
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/308482
16
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312928
Figure 9. Jar with flying figure (Oculate Being), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Middle-Late Paracas (350 BCE - 60 CE)17.

17
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/309468
Figure 10. Detail of Paracas Painted Mummy Mask with Deity and Serpents, David Bernstein
Pre-Columbian Art, New York. 500 - 200 BCE18. The hands are unclear but the feet are clearly
tridactyl.

Figure 11. Detail of Paracas Painted Mummy Mask with Deity and Serpents, David Bernstein
Pre-Columbian Art, New York. 300 - 200 BCE19.

Admittedly, not all depictions of the Oculate Being are fully tridactyl on both hands and feet.
There are various exceptions. However, these have been in the minority. Additionally, some of

18
https://www.precolumbianart4sale.com/exhibition/14/exhibition_works/462
19
https://www.precolumbianart4sale.com/exhibition/14/exhibition_works/473
these could be depictions of human shamans ritually impersonating the mythical figure. Some
examples are given below.

Figure 12. Paracas Style Ceramic Ovoid Urn, David Bernstein Pre-Columbian Art, New York.
300-200 BCE20. Four fingered hands, but tridactyl feet.

Figure 13. Detail of poncho or tunic, Brooklyn Museum, New York. Early Nasca (100-200 CE)21.
Note the smaller tridactyl figures. The figure holding mushrooms might suggest a shaman.

20
https://www.precolumbianart4sale.com/exhibition/14/exhibition_works/465
21
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/38958
Figure 14. Detail of skirt, Brooklyn Museum, New York. Late Paracas/early Nazca (0-100 CE)22.

Figure 15. Carmichael (2016).

It is hard to tell if the repeated tridactyl theme is merely a stylistic convention or deliberate. The
iconography employed by the cultures in question was detailed and intended to convey a large
amount of meaning, in the absence of a written language. I compared the depictions to other
figures from the same periods, particularly ones of non-mythological humans. We saw in
Figures 5 and 6 that the same object had a depiction of a feline creature with four digits on each
limb. Other pieces also depict humans with five digits as in Figure 16. However, the shamans in
Figure 1 are tridactyl despite being presumably human (if somewhat skeletal).
22
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/38971
Figure 16. Double-spout bottle with monkey, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Late
Paracas, 200-100 BCE23.

There are also counter-examples. One instance appears on the same jar in Figures 7 and 8 – a
human figure is also depicted as tridactyl.

Figure 17. Detail of neckless jar with complex scene, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Middle-Late Paracas (350 BCE - 60 CE)24.

23
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/308455
24
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312928
It must be noted that all of the examples given thus far date from the late Paracas/early Nazca
periods. As we get further into the Nazca culture, the depictions start to favour adding a
prehensile thumb, similar to a monkey’s. Carmichael (2016) suggests that this is due to the
influence of monkeys, which were previously unknown, arriving in this region down trade routes.

Figure 18. Nazca period Masked Beings from Carmichael (2016).

Although there are valid questions regarding how realistic/accurate these portrayals are
intended to be, we can see that a clear pattern of tridactyl depictions of the Oculate Being
existed in the late Paracas/early Nazca periods, before the addition of external elements such
as the mask and prehensile monkey thumb.

iii. Flying or diving

The Oculate Being is most often depicted as flying or diving. The “humanoid reptile” mummies
are all very small and light, with Josefina’s bones proving to be hollow. They also share other
similarities with avian species and theropod dinosaurs25. We might speculate that these helped
enable technologically aided flight.

25
Peruvian Congress presentation, 00:32:14
 iv. Metal implants

The Oculate Being is very often depicted with certain polygonal shapes attached to its body.
See, for example, Figures 2, 4, 8, 9, and 15. If the Oculate Being is associated with the Nazca
mummies, we might speculate that these shapes could be representations of the metal implants
found in various specimens.

v. Face shape

Most of the “humanoid reptile” category of mummy have a distinctive face shape formed by the
two large eyes reaching almost to the top of the head, rounded sides, and pointed chin.

Figure 19. A high definition scan of the mummy referred to as Josefina, published to the Alien
Project website. Instituto Inkari-Cusco/Jungle Doc Productions.

This shape can be seen in many depictions of the Oculate Being, e.g. at Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 9,
14, and 15.

b. Differences between the Oculate Being and the Nazca mummies

The most notable difference is the mouth area. The “humanoid reptile” mummies all have a very
small mandible, with no teeth (See Figure 19). Many of the mummified heads also have no
teeth. The Oculate Being is usually depicted with a full grin and long tongue, which do not match
the mummies at all.

We should note, however, that many of the depictions are accompanied by a miniature figure or
trophy head, which is always shown with mouth shut in a small line.
 7. Conclusions

As stated at the beginning, I am neutral as to the authenticity of the mummies. Much study of
them has been made from a biological and archaeological perspective. However, a
cross-disciplinary approach is helpful to establish the context of these supposed creatures.

Although it is difficult to be definitive, we can see that there are many features of the mummies
which are reflected in depictions of the Oculate Being of the late Paracas and early Nazca
cultures. Variations may be explained by differences in design and intent which are unknown to
us.

Further study of the mummies themselves is clearly needed, as well as clarity on the actual site
of discovery. Only then can we truly determine whether they are an extremely high-effort hoax or
creatures that once lived among the humans of the Nazca pampa.
 Appendix 1 - Features of Oculate Being/Masked Being

● Huge eyes26
● Elongated bar nose
● Upcurved mouth with teeth
● Long protruding tongue
● Whiskers shown as bars
● Streamer-like appendages, a Paracas convention identifying the mythical character of
the motif
● (From Phase 10) Oval-shaped head
● (From Phase 10) Serrated streamers
● (From Phase 10) Cleft heads
● Dorsal band at back
● Severed human heads
● Hafted triangular knives
● Darts
● Rayed face
● (From Nazca period) Mouth mask shaped in feline or monkey form
● (From Nazca period) Prehensile feet, likely due to influence of monkeys being brought to
the region for the first time
● (From Nazca period) Diadem
● (From Nazca period) Circular bangles in hair
● (From Nazca period) Shell collar

26
All adapted from Carmichael (2016)