Jaime Maussan, a polarizing UFO enthusiast, has dismissed allegations stemming from a criminal complaint following his presentation of two small mummified specimens at a Mexican congressional event focused on extraterrestrial life. Maussan, once a Mexican sports journalist now deeply immersed in UFO lore, boldly asserted that these specimens had no earthly origins.
This unique Mexican congressional hearing ignited curiosity and scientific opposition. Maussan claimed the mummified bodies were unearthed near Peru’s ancient Nazca Lines and dated by Mexico’s National Autonomous University to be around 1,000 years old.
It’s essential to mention that Maussan had previously promoted the Nazca mummy story in 2017, a tale debunked in 2021 by a study published in the International Journal of Biology and Biomedicine. The study identified the remains as mainly composed of a deteriorated llama braincase and unidentified bones, frustrating Peruvian bioanthropologist Elsa Tomasto.
In response to criticism, Maussan told Reuters, “Our stance remains unchanged,” dismissing the claims as recycled and crude. Similar past discoveries were revealed as pre-Hispanic children’s mutilated mummies combined with animal parts, according to the scientific community.
Peruvian Culture Minister Leslie Urteaga raised questions about the specimens’ journey to Mexico, along with filing a criminal complaint.
Regarding the complaint, Maussan maintained his innocence, stating, “I’m not concerned. I have not engaged in any illegal activities.” However, he did not disclose the transport details, mentioning they were borrowed from an anonymous Mexican.
Mexico’s National Autonomous University scientist, Julieta Fierro, scrutinized Maussan’s findings, noting minor data irregularities. She suggested the presence of radioactive carbon-14 isotopes, used for dating deceased organisms, did not align with extraterrestrial origins, hinting these specimens likely originated on Earth. Fierro concluded, “No enigmatic elements indicative of life compounds not found on Earth” were revealed in the results.
Newsweek has sought input from disinformation experts and Maussan through his social media channels on this matter.