Facts on Crystal Skulls
Crystal skulls, promoted as Mesoamerican artifacts, first became public in the second half of the 19th century. Some consider them genuine Pre-Columbian relics, but scholars generally regard them as modern fabrications.
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Description
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Crystal skulls are made of clear or colored quartz and vary in size. One specimen is only about 2.5 inches tall; some are life-sized. The largest known specimen stands 10 inches high and weighs 31 pounds.
Pre-Columbian Stone Skulls
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Crystal skulls differ in composition and style from confirmed Pre-Columbian examples. Stone skulls known to have been carved by Aztecs and other Mesoamericans were either basalt or limestone and appeared on altars or in bas reliefs.
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Tool Marks
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Tool marks on the skulls indicate modern manufacture. For example, analysis of specimens held by the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institute revealed marks made by rotary cutting wheels, which were not available to Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans.
Other Doubts
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No crystal skull has come from a verified archaeological excavation. Furthermore, according to anthropologist Jane MacLaren Walsh, crystal skulls appeared at a time when skeletal motifs were popular in European art, bolstering the belief that unscrupulous dealers touted these skulls as Mesoamerican artifacts to sell to credulous Europeans.
The Paranormal
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Some believe these skulls possess mystical powers. For instance, Joshua Shapiro, co-author of "Mysteries of the Crystal Skulls Revealed," claims crystal skulls caused him and others to experience paranormal phenomena. Such beliefs form the basis of the 2008 film, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
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References
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Comments
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