In the arid deserts of Nazca, Peru, a discovery has emerged that challenges conventional understandings of human history. A three-fingered mummified body, affectionately dubbed “Maria,” has undergone DNA and carbon dating analysis revealing it to be approximately 1,800 years old. According to British researcher and documentary maker Steve Mera, the results show the specimen is 98.5 percent primate—closely aligned with human genetics—with a puzzling 1.5 percent unknown genetic material that has left experts intrigued.
Steve Mera, who gained rare access to the bodies alongside fellow researcher Barry Fitzgerald, believes Maria represents far more than a mere curiosity. “We can confirm that we have evidence that the Maria body constitutes an incredible discovery,” he stated. “A discovery that may cause us to alter our history books forever. She could be the most important discovery of the 21st Century.”
Distinguishing the Authentic from the Fabricated
The Nazca mummies first captured international attention following a 2017 press conference in Lima. Several small, bizarre-looking specimens with elongated heads and three fingers or toes were presented to the media, sparking widespread speculation about extraterrestrial origins. However, Mera’s investigation paints a more nuanced picture.
While he concludes that most of the smaller bodies are modern fakes—constructed from animal bones, skin, and other materials by grave robbers seeking profit on the black market—Maria stands apart. Unlike the others, she is significantly larger, retains internal organs, and displays clear finger and toe prints. Samples extracted under controlled conditions and analyzed at Genetech Laboratory in Sri Lanka support these distinctions.
“Our scientists and professors… confirm that Maria has a very unusual DNA,” Mera explained. “It has been discovered that she is 98.5% primate, (like humans) 1.5% unknown. She also has a huge mutation in her genes that cannot be identified to any known disease.”
Mera suggests the body, originally unearthed by grave robbers, may have been professionally altered after discovery to enhance its marketability—possibly reshaping the fingers and eye sockets—yet many anomalous features appear genuine. These include horizontal dermal ridges, an absence of ears, large lower canine teeth, and an elongated skull likely resulting from ancient cranial deformation practices common in some pre-Columbian cultures.
A Careful Investigation
Mera and his team traveled to Peru in July of the previous year, examining the specimens at a secret location in the Andes while dressed in surgical gowns. They reviewed X-rays and took three carefully documented samples from Maria, maintaining a full chain of custody to ensure scientific integrity. “We believe we are the only ones with a chain of custody,” Mera emphasized. “Without this, the DNA samples cannot be proven to be the correct ones and untampered.”
The bodies, including Maria, were covered in diatomaceous earth—a white powder Mera believes may have been applied intentionally, possibly to conceal evidence of alteration or aid preservation.
Thierry Jamin, president of the Inkari Institute in Cusco, which received the bodies in April 2017, has speculated that Maria could represent a hybrid between humans and an alien “Grey” race. Mera firmly rejects this interpretation, attributing the unusual traits to natural variation or ancient human practices rather than extraterrestrial influence.
Black Market Concerns and Calls for Preservation
The investigation also uncovered a thriving illegal trade in fabricated “alien” artifacts. Mera reports that Maria herself carries a £1 million price tag on the international black market. He and Fitzgerald are now advocating for the release of the body to Peruvian authorities for proper study and display.
“We were in communications with the Mayor of Nazca who wants the bodies released and placed in a museum in Nazca,” Mera said. Peruvian authorities have formed a task force to recover the specimens, but the bodies are reportedly deteriorating rapidly.
Mera stresses the scientific importance of Maria while cautioning against sensationalism. “This could represent a new form of human. An amazing scientific discovery that may be lost to the world due to human greed.”
Looking Ahead
Steve Mera and Barry Fitzgerald are producing a three-part documentary detailing their findings, which they hope will bring rigorous academic attention to the case. For now, Maria remains a compelling enigma—one that blends elements of archaeology, genetics, and the persistent human fascination with the unknown.
As analysis continues, researchers like Mera hope the 1.5 percent unknown in her DNA will yield further clues, potentially rewriting chapters of Andean prehistory and expanding our understanding of human diversity in the ancient world. Whether Maria proves to be a rare genetic mutation, an undescribed branch of humanity, or something yet more extraordinary, her story underscores the enduring mysteries still buried beneath Peru’s ancient sands.
