SMITHSONIAN CRYSTAL SKULL
A "Fake" Crystal Skull
The Smithsonian Crystal Skull has stirred up a hot debate from the moment it arrived anonymously at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 1992. Although it was reportedly purchased in Mexico in 1960, it was originally presented to the Smithsonian Institution as being of Aztec origin, therefore the crystal skull was accepted by the museum and included in its collection.
The Smithsonian Crystal Skull exhibits some very unusual characteristics that are unique and different from any of the known "ancient crystal skulls": first, it is hollow, and second, it is extremely large and weighs over 30 pounds.
With the guidance of Jane MacLaren Walsh representing the Smithsonian Institution Crystal Skull, along with Margaret Sax, a scientist representing the British Museum Crystal Skull, there were extensive tests carried out at the British Museum's Research Laboratory in 1996. These tests concluded that the Smithsonian Museum Crystal Skull and the British Museum Crystal Skull were not as ancient as they were purported to be, and were therefore reclassified. The Smithsonian Crystal Skull was determined to be a contemporary crystal skull. Jane MacLaren Walsh believes that it was perhaps carved in Mexico shortly before it was purchased in 1960, and therefore refers to it as a "modern fake".
It is not widely known that part of the scientific experiments at the British Museum Laboratory also included the crystal skulls Sha Na Ra and Max (the Texas Crystal Skull). After extensive testing, Sha Na Ra and Max were proven not to be fakes, but for some reason the research lab refused to disclose the full test results for these two crystal skulls. You can read an eyewitness account of this in the book "The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls" by Chris Morton and Ceri Louise Thomas, who were present during this research and testing of the group of crystal skulls.
Presently the "Smithsonian Crystal SKull" is still part of the Smithsonian's national collections and has its own catalogue number: 409954 - although it spends its time stored in a locked cabinet, away from the public eye. (UPDATE: July 10 - Sep 1 2008, this was the first time the Smithsonian Crystal Skull appeared on public display in Washington DC to capitalize on the Indiana Jones Movie Phenomenon)
Smithsonian Crystal Skull |
Size: 31 lbs / 14.06 kgs |
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Stone: Milky White Quartz |
Origin: Mexico |
"Smithsonian Skull "
Initially classified as Aztec, it is now thought of as not even 100 years old. |
Official Website |
Photo Credit |
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