A new DNA analysis of mysterious ‘conehead’ mummies has failed to definitively explain their origins, fueling longstanding claims they could be linked to extraterrestrials. Researchers from Liberty University in Virginia examined teeth from the Paracas skulls, a collection of more than 300 ancient remains discovered by archaeologists in Peru during the 1920s. Previous studies concluded the cone-shaped skulls were likely intentionally deformed by a human civilization that lived more than 2,000 years ago, between 800 BC and 100 BC. However, these tests were completed through visual observations. Several earlier DNA analyses aimed at uncovering the mummies’ origins produced inconclusive results, prompting researchers to launch a new study using powdered material extracted from the teeth to build a genetic profile.

Read More: New DNA findings from ‘conehead’ mummies fuel alien origin theories