San Pedro Mountains Mummy facts for kids

The San Pedro Mountains mummy (also called Pedro) is a preserved body found in Wyoming in the 1930s. It was very small and had unusual features. Because of this, it became a part of American folklore, which means traditional stories and beliefs.

Scientists believe "Pedro" is the mummy of a baby who was born with a condition called anencephaly. This means a large part of the brain and skull did not form properly.

In October 1932, two gold miners, Cecil Mayne and Frank Carr, were digging in the San Pedro Mountains in Wyoming. They used explosives to break through some thick rock. When the dust cleared, they saw a small room, about 4 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 15 feet deep. Inside this room, they said they found the preserved body of a tiny person.

Scientists used X-rays to study this first mummy. They found it was an infant with anencephaly. This condition made its head look like a miniature adult. Later, in the 1990s, another mummy was studied by George Gill, an expert from the University of Wyoming, and the Denver Children's Hospital. This second mummy was also an infant with anencephaly. DNA tests showed it was Native American, and it was about 300 years old.

According to a newspaper article from 1979, the first mummy caused many discussions. People wondered if it was a trick, a real baby, or one of the legendary "little people". The mummy was displayed in a drug store in Meeteetse, Wyoming, for several years. Then, a businessman named Ivan T. Goodman bought it. Later, it was passed to another businessman, Leonard Wadler, in New York. Its exact location today is unknown. Someone even offered a $10,000 reward to find the missing mummy!

Discovering Chiquita

After "Pedro" was lost, another similar mummy was found in the 1990s. After George Gill appeared on television, a Native American family showed him the preserved body of a baby that looked like a human. This family had kept the mummy in their attic for many generations. Its arms and legs were folded in the same way as "Pedro," which made people think they were connected.

Gill studied this mummy three times. He believed it was the body of a little girl, and he thought she was born around the 1500s. Gill also thought that because of how both mummies were buried, "Chiquita" and "Pedro" might have had a connection beyond just their religious beliefs. DNA research showed that "Chiquita" was of Native American origin, even though she had blond hair. Gill also found that "Chiquita" had died because of anencephaly, just like "Pedro." This made him even more sure that "Pedro" also died from this condition.

Legends of Little People

When these two unique mummies were found, people who believed in the theory of "little people" quickly used them as examples. These legends have been told for a long time in Native American cultures in the area. The stories make people wonder if these tales could be true.

One group of these legendary beings is called the Nimerigar. Stories say these beings were about three feet tall. In the Wind River Indian Reservation and the mountains of Wyoming, stories describe them as magical and having healing powers. However, they were also said to be violent and a threat to local people. The name Nimerigar is even said to mean "People Eaters," which shows how much fear locals had of them.

Many stories exist about the Nimerigar in local culture. It was said to be a bad idea to make them angry, because they would attack people with poisonous darts. There is also a story in Native American Mythology that relates to the condition of the mummies' heads. Nimerigar reportedly killed older or sick community members with a "blow to the head."

Other Small Human Remains

The idea of a race of "little people" in America has been discussed throughout history. It has interested anthropologists, scientists, and geologists. In 1876, it was widely reported in the New York Times and The Anthropological Journal that a six-acre graveyard was found in Coffee County, Tennessee. It supposedly contained a tribe of people who were about three feet tall. They were found sitting and standing, and they even had wisdom teeth, which suggested they were not children. This is sometimes called a pygmy grave, and it remains a mystery why these beings were all buried together. An eerily similar discovery was also reported in Ohio, near Cochocton.

When "Pedro" and later "Chiquita" were found, some people became even more convinced that tales of an ancient civilization of small people were true. It's difficult that no more studies can be done on "Pedro" because he is lost. Many geologists and archaeologists still wonder about this discovery today. With today's technology, we could learn so much more if the remains were found.

The discovery of "Chiquita" in the Native American family's attic also makes people wonder why the family protected these remains for 500 years. This connects to different after death ceremonies around the world, where people believe that preserving a body (mummification) helps a person in the afterlife.

The discovery of small human remains has led to many ideas. Some even thought "Pedro" could be alien remains because of its head and body shape. However, most people stopped believing this when it was shown that these were human remains. This then brings up a whole new set of questions. If there was a time in history when an entire civilization of very small humans existed, we would likely find more evidence as time goes on. It is more likely that "Pedro" and "Chiquita" were mummified because of religious practices by the native people living in the area at the time.

See also

In Spanish: Momia de las Montañas de San Pedro para niños