There have been multiple articles, videos, radio shows and mentions on TV about the Peruvian Paracas skulls. You may have seen some of the articles with titles such as “Initial DNA analysis of Paracas elongated skull released – with incredible results” from the Ancient Origins websiteand “These Ancient Elongated Skulls Are NOT HUMAN” from a website called The Truth.
The alien hybrid claims
Brien Foerster convinced Juan Navarro Hierro, owner and director of the Paracas History Museum, to take samples from 5 skulls, consisting of hair, a tooth, skull bone and skin. It’s claimed that the process was carefully documented via photos and video. The photos and video have not been released.
Foerster stated in an interview with Examiner: “The initial samples I sent were bone, skin and hair from five elongated skulls, and unfortunately they were contaminated with bacterial DNA.” and goes on to say “I sent, and will send more molar teeth to him, which are perfect for testing, since the DNA is safely protected in the pulp in the interior of each tooth.”
According to Foerster the results of the DNA analysis came in and he reported: “It had mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) with mutations unknown in any human, primate, or animal known so far. But a few fragments I was able to sequence from this sample indicate that if these mutations will hold we are dealing with a new human-like creature, very distant from Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans.”
Brien Foerster has no known qualifications or experience in biology or genetics. However, Foerster sent the samples to Lloyd Pye to examine. Lloyd Pye wasn’t a geneticist either, but he started the Starchild Project in 1999 to examine an enlarged skull. Before receiving the samples, Pye was convinced that the skull was a human-alien hybrid for many years, suggesting he is perhaps the most biased person to send the samples to. It’s said that Pye’s geneticist, unnamed, is studying the samples.
It was thought that Melba Ketchum was the geneticist behind the results. While not qualified as a geneticist, she runs her own genetics lab and has been coauthor on several published papers, but never the lead author. Her lab previously had an “F” rating by the Better Business Bureau due to a variety of complaints, tax issues and lost client contracts. Long story short, she was involved in multiple Bigfoot hoaxes including the most popular of which was supposed to be proof of Bigfoot DNA, almost 3 months later the “study” was released in a new journal registered to herself and could only be accessed after purchase, it was later dismissed by various geneticists.
When it was suggested that the geneticist was Ketchum, Foerster stated on a facebookpost that: “These results are not from Melba Ketchum; she has other samples.” This leaves us with no indication to who the geneticist in question is, or if Foerster is just lying in an attempt to retain a shred of credibility, even though he has stated that she is working with other samples of the skulls.
Foerster released a book on the topic called “The Enigma of Cranial Deformation: Elongated Skulls of the Ancients” where he claims you can find more information on the DNA analysis. In reality the book is akin to a summary of his theory about the skulls.
Summary of The Claims
There have been no studies released about the DNA of these skulls. Brien Foerster apparently sent samples to an unknown geneticist, who apparently told him that the DNA is not human, after it had been admitted that most of the samples were contaminated. Foerster then tells the world the results are in and that they are alien hybrid skulls. But you have to buy his book to find out more.
The Paracas Skulls
Why are the skulls large and oddly shaped?
There are multiple reasons why the skulls may be large and misshapen, but it is generally considered as fact that artificial cranial deformation was at least somewhat commonly practiced in a number of cultures, including Peru. The practice still occurs in a few places today, such as Vanuatu. Photos of people with artificial cranial deformities are not hard to find. No statistical difference in cranial capacity has been found between artificially deformed skulls and normal skulls in Peruvian samples.
Martin Johnson © The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum
A Mangbetu child with a head bandage.
A Mangbetu child without a head bandage.
Photo taken by Attilio Gatti
Genetic cranial deformities can also result in an enlarged skull. Craniosynostosis is a rare condition where a baby is born with an abnormally shaped skull or develops one during growth.
Right side coronal stenosis with Plagiocephaly. Root of nose deviated to Right. Right eye brow higher. Right Ear More Anterior and prominent. Right Malar more prominent. (Taken from Short Notes in Plastic Surgery)
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain which can cause progressive enlargement of the head.
A child with Hydrocephalus
Another infant with Hydrocephalus
Roona Begum, a three-year-old infant with an extreme case of Hydrocephalus. Her skull measured 37 inches (94cm) before reduction surgery.
Conclusion
Both artificial and genetic cranial deformation have been documented. I would love nothing more than to see proof of extraterrestrial life, however no genetic tests to date suggest that any enlarged skull has anything to do with alien life.
Brien Foerster, Lloyd Pye and David Hatcher Childress (co-author of Brien’s book on the topic) have caught peoples’ attention with their theories and claims of aliens and alien hybridization. It doesn’t matter if they actually have evidence of the DNA results because the truth is that the vast majority won’t check beyond the title. With DNA analysis, most people wouldn’t know what to look for anyway. We’ve documented a variety of hoaxes that not only became popular, but made their way onto some of the most popular alternative media websites.
There appears to be no evidence that the Paracas skulls, as amazing as they may be, are anything other than a result of artificial cranial deformation, and Lloyd Pye’s starchild skull differs little from relatively well-known genetic cranial defects.
We should stop trusting stories just because they are sensationalized. We shouldn’t trust a website just because it posts about things we already believe in. Too many call themselves truth seekers only to be sharing disinformation from low-quality copy-and-paste websites.
As Hitchen’s razor states: “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
It’s about time we stop believing titles just because we feel that it could be correct or that we’d like it to be correct. It’s time to start looking at evidence, and when no evidence is provided, demand it!
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