Tiny 'Alien' Skeleton: Photo of 6-Inch 'Alien' Sparks Debate, Scientists Say Skeleton Is Human (VIDEO)
A tiny "alien" skeleton, which had been touted by some as proof of extraterrestrial life, has been confirmed by scientists as in fact being of human origin.
Ten years ago a six inch skeleton was discovered, sparking some to claim that it was a mummified alien visitor. However, according to a group of Stanford scientists in a new documentary called Sirius, the skeleton is in fact a human.
The remains are a small humanoid, which has come to be known as the "Atacama Humanoid" and nicknamed Ata, and were discovered in Chile's Atacama Desert in 2003.
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Over the years people have touted the remains to be that from an aborted fetus, to monkeys, and even aliens.
The skeleton has a skull with an elongated head, which is oversized compared to the tiny body.
It was reported that a man called Oscar Munoz found the remain on Oct. 19, 2003 when he was hunting around in La Noria, in the Atacama Desert, according to local publications in Chile.
The skeleton had hard teeth in the mouth, as well as an odd-bulge at the top of the skull. Others also highlighted that the skeleton only had nine ribs, where as humans have 24 ribs.
Physician and Disclosure Project founder Dr. Steven Greer has said, "After six months of research by leading scientists at Stanford University, the Atacama Humanoid remains a profound mystery."
He added, "We traveled to Barcelona Spain in late September 2012 to obtain detailed X-Rays, CAT scans and take genetic samples for testing at Stanford University. We obtained excellent DNA material by surgically dissecting the distal ends of two right anterior ribs on the humanoid."
It is now believed that the skeleton is an "interesting mutation of a male human that had survived post-birth for between six and eight years," Greer explained.
Garry Nolan, director of stem cell biology at Stanford University's School of Medicine in California has said, "I can say with absolute certainty that it is not a monkey. It is human, closer to human than chimpanzees. It lived to the age of six to eight."
The documentary, Sirius, premiered in Los Angeles on Earth Day and was released online April 22.
