Archeology: Damnation of Crystal Skulls
He who reveals the secret will die...
The skull was first discovered by the expedition headed by famous English archeologist F. Albert Mitchell-Hedges in Central America in 1927. Before that, the archeologist started clearing an ancient maya settlement in a damp tropical jungle in Yucatan (British Honduras at that time and currently Belize) in 1924. It was decided to burn down 33 hectares of forest covering the ancient constructions of the settlement to make the archeological dig easier. When the smoke lifted, the expedition saw amazing ruins of a stone pyramid, city walls, and a huge amphitheatre capable to seating thousands of spectators. The ancient settlement was called Lubaantun: The Place of the Fallen Stones.
After three years, Mitchell-Hedges organized another expedition; he took his daughter Anna with him, but, at that moment, the archeologist hardly supposed that the girl would be a lucky talisman for the expedition. On the day of her 17th birthday, in April 1927, Anna discovered a strange item under the debris of an ancient altar. That was a natural sized human skull made of a rock crystal and wonderfully polished. The skull lacked its lower jaw, which was found dozens meters from the site three months later. The crystal details could be moved with the help of perfect, smooth joints on the skull and easily moved with every touch. Those who touched the skull experienced rather strange feelings.
Anna was the first to experience strange things. The girl put the skull near her bed before going to sleep. Anna said that she dreamed of the life of Indians who had lived thousands years ago, and the girl could describe the dream in detail.
At first, Anna didn't attribute the strange dream to the crystal skull. However, strange dreams haunted the girl each time she had the skull near her bed. New dreams brought more new details about the life of Indians, details unknown even to scientists. When the skull was removed from the bedroom, there were no strange dreams. And they recommenced as soon as the strange find was taken back to Anna's room. The girl heard Indians talking and watched their everyday life and sacrifice rituals.
After the death of her father, at the beginning of the 1960s, Anna decided to give the strange skull to scientists for investigations. She believed that the skull was too perfect to have been made by the Indian civilizations living before the Columbus discoveries.
First, art critic Frank Dordland started investigating the strange skull. After a closer investigation, he discovered that the skull had a complicated system of lenses, prisms, and channels, creating unusual optical effects. The investigator was surprised to discover no signs of processing on the skull's perfectly polished surface. They couldn't be seen even with a microscope. Frank Dordland even addressed Hewlett-Packard, the famous company that specialized in crystal oscillators at that time, for a competent examination of the crystal.
The results were shocking not only for the scientist himself. The research by Hewlett-Packard in 1964 in a special laboratory revealed that the skull had been made long before the first civilizations appeared in that part of America where the skull was found. In addition, rock crystal of such perfect quality couldn't be found in that area. The most amazing thing was that the ancient skull weighing 5.13 kg, 203.4 mm long and 125.4 wide had been made of a whole crystal. This fact contradicted the laws of physics.
Hewlett-Packard experts analyzed the skull and discovered that it consisted of three or four joints grown together. After close analysis, they found out that the skull had been cut of one piece of crystal, together with the lower jaw. The rock crystal has a hardness that is slightly lower than that of topaz, corundum, and diamond; it can be cut with diamonds only. It is astonishing, but the ancient Indians managed to cut it somehow, and even made a lower jaw with the joints. Someone had made the skull of a whole crystal so carefully that it seemed that nobody had ever touched it. A kind of a prism was found at the back bottom of the skull; any ray of light that strikes the eye-sockets is reflected there. If you look into the eye-sockets, you may see the whole room reflected.
Hewlett-Packard experts say that the skull had been made regardless of all laws and rules. They surprisingly said: "The damned thing can't exist at all. Those who had done it had no idea of crystallography or of fiber optics. The people completely ignored the axis of symmetry, which was to prevent the crystal from splitting during processing. It is strange why it didn't split at that!" No matter how unbelievable it may seem, the strange crystal skull can be seen in the Museum of American Indians.
What is more astonishing, the Hewlett-Packard experts confirmed that not the slightest signs of mechanical processing could be found on the skull's surface, even the slightest scratches left by polishing. Experts are sure that it would have taken hundreds of years to polish this extremely hard material so perfectly.
This opinion was confirmed by a recent finding, about which FATE magazine published in August 1996. A woman from Colorado, US, rode about her ranch near Creston in the winter of 1994 when she suddenly came across something shining. When she picked it up, she saw it was a human skull made of glass or crystal. It is strange, but the skull was crumpled and twisted so that it seemed it had been plastic before it became solid. It is still a mystery where the skull came from and why it was so mutilated. (It should be mentioned that UFOs frequently haunt that part of the state; unexplainable cattle mutilations are registered there at that.)
Historians and social anthropologists decided to find out more about the strange skulls. Very soon, they came across an ancient Indian legend saying that there had been thirteen crystal skulls of the Goddess of Death; they had been kept separately from each other under the strict control of pagan priests and special warriors.
Searches for more skulls started; some of them were found in museums and some in private collections not only in the USA, but in Mexico, Brazil, France, Mongolia, and in Tibet. There were more than 13 skulls found. However, not all of them were as perfect as Mitchell-Hedges' was. Very likely, those were just later attempts to create something similar to the original skulls that were believed to have been gifts by God to the people.
The mystery of the British Museum's crystal skull is solved. It's a fake
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
07 January 2005
Some say it has mystical powers derived from its ancient origins as an Aztec symbol of death. Others believe it is one of 13 crystal skulls that will foretell the destiny of humankind when brought together in the same place.
Whatever legends are attached to the crystal skull of the British Museum in London, one fact stands out. No other object in the museum's extensive collection has acquired such a cult following from New Age devotees.
Now, however, science can finally set the record straight and, in doing so, shatter one of the most enduring myths of an object steeped in historical fantasy. The crystal skull is a fake.
A detailed analysis of the skull's surface has revealed that it was cut and polished with the sort of rotating wheel common in the jewellery houses of 19th-century Europe but absent in pre-Columbian America.
Historians and scientists believe that the skull was cut from a piece of Brazilian rock crystal by a lapidary in Europe, possibly Germany, and then sold to collectors as a relic from the ancient Aztec civilisation of Mexico.
Doubts about the authenticity of the crystal skull - a near life-sized sculpture - first surfaced more than a decade ago. Tests have now confirmed that it is almost certainly not a genuine Aztec object, said Professor Ian Freestone of the University of Wales at Cardiff and a former head of scientific research at the British Museum in London.
"We are not at all sure that there is a rock source in Mexico that would produce a rock crystal of this size. There is strong circumstantial evidence that it comes from Brazil," Professor Freestone said. "When you look at known, genuine Aztec rock crystals, they have a much gentler polish. This has the harsh, polished look you get with modern equipment," he said.
These two findings alone do not prove a fraud, but when scientists began to investigate the surface of the skull under a powerful electron microscope the doubts about the skull's origins began to be confirmed.
The scientists took impressions of the skull with the same flexible resin used by dentists to take precise impressions of teeth. This revealed minute rotary scratch marks around the eye sockets, teeth and cranium and was clear evidence that the sculpture had been cut and polished with a wheeled instrument - and the Aztecs never used the wheel.
"The evidence coming together suggests that it was late. To me the case is overwhelmingly against it being of earlier, Aztec origin," Professor Freestone said.
Further work by an archivist, Jane Walsh of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, points the finger of suspicion at Eugene Boban, a 19th-century collector of pre-Columbian artefacts who appears to have been instrumental in selling at least two crystal skulls purporting to be ancient.
Not much is known about Boban except that he was a French citizen who spent more than two decades of his life in Mexico, Dr Walsh said.
Documents unearthed by Dr Walsh reveal that it was Boban who had acquired the skull that was eventually sold in 1897 by Tiffany's, the New York jeweller, to the British Museum. She also found that it was Boban who some years earlier had tried to sell the same skull to the Smithsonian. And it was Boban who sold a similar crystal skull to a collector who later donated it to the Musée de l'Homme in Paris, where it still is today.
For Boban to come into possession of two crystal skulls purporting to be of pre-Columbian origin may be a coincidence too far, especially in the light of the new scientific evidence suggesting a fake.
Colin McEwan of the British Museum said that the skull, which is going on display this Christmas in the museum's Wellcome Trust Gallery, has been the subject of some peculiar rituals over the years when it was in the Museum of Mankind. "We had people going into seances and talking in tongues," Dr McEwan said.
One native American legend tells of the existence of 13 such skulls which are supposed to contain information about the origins and destiny of humankind. At a time of great need all the skulls would be rediscovered so that they can be brought together in one place to reveal their secrets, so the legend goes.
Interestingly, there are now about a dozen large crystal skulls known to exist in the world, and all but three of them are in private hands.
Some of those who believe in these legends have accused the museum of trying to hide the skull from public view, or of "trapping" the cosmic energy contained in it, Dr McEwan said. "We've had extensive petitions claiming that damage has been done to the object because it has feelings, it's imprisoned, it's not allowed to fulfil its destiny, and so forth."
Joshua Shapiro, an author who believes the skull has mystical properties, said it was difficult for him to comment on the findings. "It sounds like they wish to discredit the significance of their crystal skull and the possibility that it could have been carved or fashioned by the Meso-American people in Mexico where it was purportedly discovered," he said. "These questions might not even be as important as what this crystal skull represents within this field of study... Even if its origins or who made it are unknown, it helped to give people in the world an awareness that such objects do exist, and that they are revered by the indigenous people in the world."
Professor Freestone accepts that the latest findings are unlikely to convince those who believe that the crystal skull is anything but a fake. "As soon as we say that one part of it has been polished in a certain way, someone else says it's because it's been touched up later on. It's hard to make a cast-iron case, to be honest," he admitted. "You've only got to look at the shroud of Turin to see that some people will be hard to convince even in the face of overwhelming evidence."
Nevertheless, even if it is a fake, the skull in London still commands a lot of interest from the public. As Professor Freestone says: "Whatever you think of it, it's a fantastic object. Even if it was made in Germany at the end of the 19th century."
'Aztec' crystal skull 'likely to be fake'
Jan 7 2005
By Emily Pennink
A crystal skull revered by New Age followers for its perceived ancient mystical powers is likely to be a fake, an academic said today.
The almost life-sized skull, which was sold to London's British Museum in 1897, was thought to have been a relic from the Aztec civilisation in Mexico.
However, research by a British professor has added weight to the theory that it was probably made in 19th century Europe from a lump of poor quality Brazilian crystal.
Professor Ian Freestone, of the University of Wales in Cardiff, examined the skull and now believes it was cut and polished with a wheeled instrument. The Aztecs never used the wheel.
Furthermore, the type of crystal used is common in Brazil but has never been found in Mexico.
And the surface of the skull, which contains tiny bubbles that glint in the light, is more sharply defined than softer looking Aztec crystal relics with which it has been compared.
Prof Freestone, formerly head of scientific research at the British Museum, led a team from the museum who took casts of the surface using dental resin which were then examined close-up using a scanning electron microscope.
He said: "It does appear that in some areas of the skull they have used a rotary tool and as far as we know that sort of technique was only introduced after the Europeans came to the Americas, so it's post-Columbus.
"We know this from looking at other south and central American objects and evidence from Spanish priests. When they first came to the Americas they showed the traditional way of working stone."
However, Prof Freestone said that despite the strong circumstantial evidence suggesting the skull was 19th century European in origin, it does not amount to cast-iron proof.
Some people may still argue the markings come from more recent polishing.
"Stone is one of the hardest materials to date. That is why it has been an open question for so long. It's still not definitively solved and it will never be," he said.
The skull, which stands 8in (21cm) high, can be interpreted as a symbol of spiritual belief, death and the afterlife. Crystal is also believed by some to be powerful.
It was originally thought to have been brought from Mexico by a Spanish officer in the 19th century.
It was sold to the British Museum by a New York jeweller who bought it from Frenchman Eugene Boban, who curiously appears to be linked with another crystal skull now at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris.
The debate over its true origin has raged since the 1950s when an examination first raised the question it was crafted with a rotary tool.
But despite its dubious past, Prof Freestone said its appeal is undeniable.
"It's all tied up with people's attitudes to belief, death and the afterlife. There is mystery and people like a mystery.
"If you see this skull in bright light it is fairly impressive, whatever your views about its origin. Most people who have encountered it do say it has made an impression."
Mystery of Mayan Crystal Skulls
By Catherine Keller
Epoch Times French Staff
Aug 21, 2005
A legend was transmitted in Central America for a very long time. Both the Mayas and the Aztecs believed that the world had already been destroyed four times and that we live here under the fifth Sun. Giants lived under the first Sun; their world was destroyed by water. The second Sun witnessed the aerial serpent destroying the world and people being transformed into monkeys, only one man and one woman were saved. The third Sun was destroyed by heavenly fire (a meteorite), people of that time ate fruit only...
At the time of the fourth Sun, people had died of hunger, which followed a flood of fire and blood. It was predicted that the end of the fifth world would have happened because of the Earth vibrating and shaking (due to possible inversion of the terrestrial magnetism). Then all life would disappear.
Perhaps, you've heard about Mayan calendar. It started on August 13, 3114 BC, and the end was destined to come on December 21, 2012. It was related to Venus. Mayan scribes left manuscripts, called codices, with many "prophecies", particularly about solar eclipses. They were regarded to be famous astronomers.
From the times when people inhabited twelve planets, there were thirteen crystal skulls left. Those inhabitants left them to people of Earth. Atlantes had left them to the Mayas. If put together, these skulls could have revealed information about our origins and how to avoid future catastrophes. Our predecessors could make them speak, their jaws could move. One may suppose that they were super-powerful computers.
Results of multiple examinations of these skulls are astonishing. Namely, the research on the famous skull of Anna Mitchell-Hedges, carried out by the Hewlett Packard laboratories, was summarized as follows: "Our scientists cannot explain how these skulls could have been carved in ancient times without instruments and tools of today".
According to experts at Hewlett Packard, it would have taken no less than a year to carve a scull of Anna Mitchell-Hedges even with modern tools. Also, it is not clear how such a precisely engraved fragile object could have been preserved under the permanent effects of the vibrations and heat.
The answers to all these questions could have helped to give credit to the authenticity of the legend.
It's worth mentioning that since the end of the 19th century the crystal skulls trade began but most of them were duplicates. So is it a legend or...?
Mysterious crystal skulls of Maya possess supernatural capacities
7/2/06
According to a popular story, English researcher Frederick A. Mitchell-Hedges found the Skull of Doom among Maya ruins in Lubaantun (now Belize) in 1927.
However, some people state that the researcher bought the thing at Sotheby's in London in 1943. No matter what is the origin of the skull, the object of rock crystal is so perfectly worked that it is an invaluable piece of art. If we accept the first hypothesis saying that the skull belonged to Maya, then a great number of questions arise in this connection.
Researchers state that the Skull of Doom is in a certain way impossible from the technical point of view. The ideal copy of a female skull weighing five kilograms is so wonderfully perfect which could hardly be achieved without some modern methods that Maya knew and of which we have no idea. The skull is polished perfectly. Its jaw is an articulate part detached from the rest of the skull.
The Skull of Doom has been the point of interest of researchers from various spheres for a rather long period. And it is sure to draw their attention in the future as well.
A group of esoteric experts keep on insisting that the skull reveals supernatural capacities such as telekinesis, exhaling a rare smell and changing colors. But it is difficult to prove that these capacities actually exist.
The Skull of Doom was subjected to various analyses. It is incredible that the item made of fused silica with the hardness seven of the Mohs scale (the scale of mineral hardness from zero to ten) was worked without hard cutting rubies or diamonds. Hewlett-Packard studied the skull in the 1970s and stated that it must have taken 300 years for numerous generations to rub a block of rock crystal down with sand until the perfect Skull emerged. Was it possible that Maya planned this work that could be completed just in three centuries? One thing is for sure is that the Skull of Doom is not unique. Several items of the same type and made of materials similar to quartz were discovered in different parts of the planet. A whole skeleton of a smaller caliber than the human one made of jade was discovered in the area of China and Mongolia. According to various estimates, the skeleton belonged to 3500-2200 B.C.
There is some doubt that many of the artifacts are genuine. One thing is for certain that crystal skulls give much pleasure to audacious researchers.
Translated by Maria Gousseva
13 crystal Maya skulls will save the world
18.09.2006
Ancient tribe of Maya passed on a legend that tells of the 13 crystal sculls able to save the world from a terrible catastrophe.
Once in 1927 a British archeologist Mitchell-Hedges was able to confirm the Mayan legend through his own discovery: when the man was clearing debris from atop a ruined temple at the ancient Mayan city of Lubaantum his daughter found one such skull made out of pure quartz.
Later a few more of these mysterious artifacts came into possession of people in different parts of the world. Places where the human sized ancient crystal skulls have been found are generally various ruins and many are guarded by descendants of indigenous people throughout the world.
The skulls have mystical qualities: they can bring their owners into the state of hypnosis, cause people to hallucinate or have dreams about ancient Indians. Some say they can even make wishes come true.
According to the Crystal Links research a conservator and restorer Frank Dorland studying one of the skulls discovered that it had zygomatic arches acting as light pipes, using principles similar to modern optics, to channel light from the base of the skull to the eye sockets.
The eye sockets in turn were miniature concave lenses that also transferred light from a source below, into the upper cranium. Finally, in the interior of the skull was a ribbon prism and tiny light tunnels, by which objects held beneath the skull could be magnified and brightened. As a result, when placed upon a source of light, the skull acquired glowing eyes and appeared to be on fire.
Yet the origins and the manufacturing of the skulls remain inexplicable. World Mystery Research Center reports that several of ancient skulls have been brought to Hewlett-Packard, located in the San Francisco area. Hewlett- Packard, long known as a manufacturer of printers and computer systems, has one of the most extensive scientific and crystal research laboratories in the world.
The scientist working at HP, who had a chance to work with some of these ancient crystal skulls were hard pressed to explain how a primitive culture could have carved crystal into such precise shapes and especially against the natural axis of the crystal without the use of sophisticated tools!
Thus far, four types of ancient quartz skulls are known including clear quartz, amethyst (purple), rose quartz (pink) and smoky quartz (from grey to black). It may be that these magic gifts of the ancestors would assist humanity in surviving the doomsday of 2012, as was foretold by the enigmatic Maya civilization.
Natalia Vysotskaya
Skull for scandal - Temples, human sacrifices and a mysterious crystal skull draw visitors to Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun - 3/29/07
'Max'-imum exposure - Max the crystal skull visits area for residents to meditate along with - 9/14/07
Weekend to do: Sci Fi's 'Mysteries of the Crystal Skulls' interview with Lester Holt - 5/13/08
INTERVIEW: Lester Holt Talks Mystery of the Crystal Skulls - 5/18/08
In-depth on Indy - Part 4: The Crystal Skull legends: Fact or fiction? - 5/22/08
Real Crystal Skulls Are Far More Fantastic than Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - 5/25/08
All Copyrights © are acknowledged. Any material reproduced here is for educational and research purposes only.
