Native American tribes were best known to tell tales of legendary “tiny people,” “little spirits”, or the "Nimerigar." According to them, these small people had amazing magical powers, that's said to be healing powers. In other tale versions,the little creatures were known as enemies of the Native Americans and they attacked them with poisoned arrows.
The Nimerigar are legendary race of little people found in the folklore of the Shoshone people of North America's Rocky Mountains.The tales of these creatures became more prominent when two gold hunters within the San Pedro Mountains in Wyoming unexpectedly found a small cavern that's buried deep within a thick rock. The gold hunters checked the cavern and they shockingly discovered a well-preserved remains of a tiny human creature. They called it Pedro.
According to Shoshone tales, the Nimerigar were an aggressive people who would shoot poisoned arrows from tiny bows. Nimerigar were said to have lived in the Wind River and Pedro ranges of Wyoming. Although thought to be mythical, the reality of Nimerigar tales was called into question in 1932 with the discovery of the San Pedro Mountains Mummy, a 14-inch-tall mummy found in a cave 60 miles south of Casper, Wyoming, which was originally thought to be that of an adult male. The mummy was examined using X-rays which determined that it was the body of an anencephalic infant "whose cranial deformity gave it the appearance of a miniature adult." A second mummy examined by University of Wyoming anthropologist George Gill and the Denver Children's Hospital in the 1990s was also shown to be an anencephalic infant. DNA testing showed it to be Native American and radiocarbon dating dated it to about 1700. - Wikipedia
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When Pedro got discovered, Scientists and theorists took advantage of its remains to further know the origin of the said tiny human., Invasive testing and X-rays were conducted. There are some anthropologists who initially tested and tried to unlock the origin of the remains. Their tests led them to a conclusion that the said remains were those of an infant that was most likely born prematurely or died shortly right after birth.
However,Another set of scientists testified that the remains is from an adult which is 16-65 years in age. X-rays revealed that the remains have sharp teeth, and presence of food in the stomach that appeared to be raw meat. The x-rays also suggested that Pedro died a gruesome death due to broken bones, ruined spine and broken skull.
If there are contradicting theories stating that Pedro is an infant or a grown man, There are also beliefs that Pedro is from a Leprechaun-like race. Though modern testing could finally give us a definite explanation to Pedro's origin, It is quite impossible to happen for now since the remains has been unknown for several years. It is also said that the remains were put on display in the 1940s, and were then purchased by a man named Ivan Goodman.
A leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán) is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology. The Leprechauns spend all their time busily making shoes, and store away all their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If ever captured by a human, the Leprechaun has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for their release. Popular depiction shows the Leprechaun as being no taller than a small child with a beard and hat. - WikipediaThrough Goodman’s death in 1950, the remains were passed on to another man named Leonard Waller and ever isnce he got the remains, the public was not able to see Pedro anymore. It is quite frustrating that with how advanced our current technology is, We weren't able to finally unlock the mystery of Pedro until then, theories from our ancestors, enthusiasts and scientists will be varying from time to time.