Buzz
Skulls are fascinating components of the skeletal system, offering insights into the facial features of their owners. For researchers, they provide valuable data on diet, lifestyle, health, age, and even brain size. Over the years, numerous peculiar skulls have been unearthed, challenging existing scientific knowledge. While some discoveries have advanced our understanding, others have been fabricated for fame or financial gain. These fraudulent skulls often fail under rigorous examination but remain intriguing until their deceit is uncovered. This list explores hoax skulls, misinterpreted findings, and misleading practices related to skulls.
10. Starchild Skull
This skull was reportedly discovered in Mexico around 1930 but gained public attention in 1999 when presented by Lord Pye. It was speculated to belong to an alien infant or a hybrid of alien and human. While the lower skull resembled that of a child, the upper cranium was unusually large at 1600mL, exceeding expectations by over 400mL. Pye asserted that radiocarbon dating placed it at 900 years old and that unnamed scientists confirmed its extraterrestrial origin. However, independent DNA analysis identified the skull as Native American, likely from a child with hydrocephalus, a condition causing excessive fluid in the skull. Modern treatments, such as cerebral shunts, can now alleviate this condition by draining the fluid.
9. Calveras Skull
Discovered by miners in Calaveras, USA, in 1866, this skull was presented by Josiah Whitney as evidence of human presence in the Americas during the Pliocene era, over two million years ago. Its modern appearance led creationists to argue against human evolution. However, chemical analyses revealed it was far more recent, and inconsistencies in its discovery story cast doubt on its authenticity. Despite widespread skepticism and numerous claims of it being a planted prank, Whitney insisted on its legitimacy. In 1992, radiocarbon dating confirmed it was merely around 1000 years old.
8. Phrenology
Phrenology, a 19th-century European pseudoscience, gained popularity by suggesting that brain development could be inferred from skull contours. Observing that brain injuries in specific areas affected corresponding mental functions, practitioners believed skull bumps could reveal personality traits and abilities. This led to its use in asserting superiority and even predicting children's futures. However, the skull's shape does not accurately reflect the brain's structure, and the traits assigned to brain regions were later debunked. Despite its flaws, phrenology sparked interest in neuroscience, paving the way for more credible scientific advancements.
7. Piltdown Man
In 1912, Charles Dawson unearthed a peculiar skull in Piltdown, England, blending human and ape characteristics. He declared it the 'missing link' between humans and apes, featuring a human-like cranium and an ape-like jaw. Later investigations revealed it was a fabricated combination of a human skull, an orangutan jaw, and altered chimpanzee teeth, artificially aged to appear ancient. As more authentic human ancestor fossils were discovered, Piltdown Man became increasingly anomalous. In 1953, it was definitively exposed as a hoax. Despite its fraudulent nature, Piltdown Man fueled significant debates on human evolution and remains one of the most infamous skull hoaxes.
6. Batavus Genuinus
In 1828, an unusual skull was discovered on Marken Island in the Netherlands. Despite being modern, it featured a sloped forehead, unlike typical human skulls. Theories emerged, suggesting the islanders were an ancient hominid species, 'batavus genuinus,' evolving in isolation. Anthropologists observed the islanders' sloped foreheads, with some proposing Neanderthal ancestry. However, in 1912, a Dutch physician revealed that traditional tight headwear worn by Marken children caused the sloped foreheads. Children raised off the island lacked this trait, and interbreeding with other humans produced healthy offspring, confirming their status as homo sapiens.
5. Trepanning
Trepanning, a practice dating back at least 8,000 years, involved drilling holes into skulls to treat conditions like headaches, seizures, and mental disorders. Numerous trepanned skulls show signs of healing, indicating survival for weeks or months post-procedure. However, infections likely caused many deaths. Today, trepanning persists in pseudoscientific circles, with claims of releasing evil spirits, boosting health, curing depression, and other unverified benefits.
4. Giant skull
Reports claim the military cordoned off a vast area, restricting access to government personnel only. The site remained shrouded in secrecy until a helicopter captured aerial photographs. These images allegedly depicted workers unearthing an enormous skull and a giant skeleton. The skeleton gained fame through viral emails, but the photos were later exposed as digitally manipulated composites of unrelated images. Other purported giant skulls have either been debunked, lost, denied for examination, or identified as slightly larger Neanderthal skulls.
3. Crystal Skulls
Legend has it that these skulls have been in circulation among collectors and museums since the late 1800s. Allegedly crafted over 3000 years ago by the Mayans or Aztecs with extraterrestrial assistance, they became objects of mystical reverence. Touching one was said to heal and bestow immense power. Supposedly, there are 13 in total, though not all have been found. Uniting all 13 would grant godlike power. However, examinations reveal that all studied skulls were made in Europe within the last two centuries, with no authentic Mayan or Aztec legends supporting their origins. While beautifully crafted, these skulls and their myths are an elaborate fabrication. It remains unclear if they were created by a single individual, inspired by one another, or ever intended to be taken as genuine.
2. Horned Skulls
Numerous claims exist about the discovery of horned human skulls, yet few have been made available for independent examination. While unusual skin growths resembling horns can occur, they are not skeletal and are more akin to fingernails than true horns. The tales likely originated from reports of numerous horned skulls found in Pennsylvania, which mysteriously disappeared before experts could study them. Some accounts even attribute demonic powers or double rows of teeth to these skulls. Although some versions claim expert verification, the cited experts either do not exist or deny such claims. In contrast, crested skulls are genuine, belonging to paranthropus, a hominid genus with massive jaws for chewing seeds and roots. Their jaw muscles attached to skull crests, similar to modern male gorillas.
1. Elongated Skulls
Numerous elongated or misshapen skulls have been discovered globally, with some groups claiming they are extraterrestrial. Infant skulls, being soft and malleable, have historically been reshaped by binding babies' heads for months, a practice seen among the Marken people. Such skull modifications date back to prehistoric times, and DNA testing confirms they belong to modern humans or Neanderthals. This tradition has been observed among Germanic tribes, Native Americans, and Indigenous Australians, persisting in a few regions today. Typically performed for aesthetic or status purposes, proper deformation does not result in brain damage.
