The Indiana Jones special, “Mystery of the Crystal Skulls†will be airing on SCI FI Channel this Sunday at 9/8 C.
[Photo courtsey of Joshua Shapiro — a crystal skull explorers]
After multiple airings on the SCI FI Channel of the first three Indiana Jones blockbusters on May 17 and 18, the new special “Mystery of the Crystal Skulls” explores the true history of the legendary relic, unearthing the myths, legends and controversies that surround them. Could the skulls be ancient Mayan prophecies of doom or relics from the Lost City of Atlantis? Or do they, as some believe, store the vast knowledge of a highly advance extraterrestrial civilization. To try to answer these questions, SCI FI has launched an unprecedented expedition into the jungles of Belize to track down the missing skulls. It’s a quest worthy of Indiana Jones himself and one that tries to unlock the knowledge about humanity’s imminent destiny.
Lester Holt follows in the footsteps of British explorer and adventurer Frederick Mitchell-Hedges, an inspiration for the fictional Indiana Jones character, whose daughter discovered the first ancient crystal skull in the 1920s in the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun. Bill Homann, a modern-day adventurer and caretaker of the Mitchell-Hedges’ skull, joins Lester on the quest that takes them through the treacherous jungles of Belize and in the rough waters of the Honduran coast. Together, with clues that Homann obtained from Mitchell-Hedges’ daughter and local Mayans, they go in search of another missing skull while surviving the bat-ridden caves and alligator infested rivers. Along the way, they come across amazing discoveries including a hidden Mayan temple that could house more treasures.
Shane says
Appropriate that this is on the Sci Fi channel. The crystal skulls have been thoroughly debunked as modern fakes. The best sum up I’ve heard was in Brian Dunning’s Skeptoid podcast. The transcript of that episode can be found here: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4098
SamuraiGunslinger says
For those who dont want to take the time to read the whole transcript the key quote is this:
“Now, I’m reluctant to burst anyone’s bubble, but before going further it’s necessary to clear up a few misconceptions. The Mitchell-Hedges skull is not quite 3,600 years old, and Mitchell-Hedges found it a little closer to home than Belize. In fact, he bought it from Sydney Burney, a London art dealer, through a Sotheby’s auction on October 15, 1943”
Brian includes links to an image of the actual recipt from southby’s auction and the research proving the actual, and totally non spiritual origin of the skull.
It’s a bummer, and would be cool if it were true, but alas, this is just another in a long line of new age hoaxes.
At least this is not another History Channel show spouting pseudo science and myth under the guise of a documentary. Its on the Sci-Fi channel for a reason.
Joshua Shapiro says
It is not a nice thing to see photos of ones crystal skulls shown without proper credit being given
with the exception of the first crystal skull here, the rest are shown via our website and free e-book
could we request that the person who is posting this acknowledge the photo credits
(c) Blue Arrow Rainbow & Joshua Shapiro
the crystal skull explorers
for others interested in the crystal skulls we have
given our new website above and also part I had
a chance to be interviewed for the Scifi channel
so I am curious to see how it all works out
thank you for your kind attention
Joshua Shapiro
a crystal skull explorers
Sam says
Thanks Joshua. We always credit and acknowledge the originator of photos we use whenever we know the source. We appreciate you letting us know so that we could properly credit you and link our subscribers and fans to your very interesting website.
Bernardo Junco says
As the director of the Diego Rosales Museum I would like to present to anyone interested the crystal skull that Maestro Rosales has in his 18,000 piece archeology collection. All the pieces , including the skull, have been registered in the Instituto Nacional De Antropologia E Historia in Mexico.
To view various pictures and the registry contact me and I will be happy to e mail them out. The archelogy section in our web page is still under construction but feel free to visit the art section. There you can access a biography of this great Mexican Painter and read about the famous murals he created with the great Diego Rivera.
Regards,
Bernardo Junco
Director
Diego Rosales Museum
http://www.diegorosalesmuseum.com
kirkland halliday says
now im sorry but thats crap i believe that this is true but thats only my apinon and yes ino you dont think its true but if these werint made by the myins then who? and it would have takin along time to carve polish these and it would take one hell of an artist. now please write me back i would like to make more scence of this i find it fantasticly interesting. my name is kirkland halliday i live on xxxxxxxxx get me on msn or face book, plees get back soon
J.Scott says
All I want to know was there any instruction left behind with these skulls on what to do with them. Idea could the skulls have contributed to the dissaprance of 2 civilization aztec,myan which are grouped and atlantis a sort of rapture from biblical text or some type of beacon for diffrent types of men . Were all here on earth but some are not earth bound or men just beings with human costumes.Or could this be somthing toward of evil like in the fifth element movie. Expand your mind seek and you shall find.
alisa says
first of all the crystal skulls are real. If you had belonged to a NEW Age church you would learn that but you probably don’t so you won’t know it.
C.Davis Wilson says
There are detailed instruction from the Mitchell-Hedges skull, as to what is, how to use it.. How can one persons opinion be the “truth” could it be you can’t handle the truth?
The Skull Speaks……………..
swethanagasaraswathi says
how the mitchel hedges skull can be explored ?what for all these skulls ?is there atlantis really ?is there really the mayan temple ?many questions in my mind .please find them.waiting for you,
jason says
Shane,
the crystal skulls IN NO WAY have been debunked as fakes. no yet.
The ancient crystal skulls are some of the greatest mysteries in the world, and will remain that way for a long time. and i personally feel you, or anybody else for that matter, has a right to say that they are faked. its not possible. not for mitchell-hedges or anyone else to fake it! even with todays modern tools we can not create a human sized crystal skull out of a single piece of quartz crystal. its just not possible it would shatter.
you can’t call F.A. Mitchell-Hedges (or anyone else for that matter) a lier. because if the skulls were faked that means him, his daughter, and his daughter’s husband are lying to EVERYONES FACE!!
now back off!
Buzz
jerame copelan says
if you think the skulls arent real think of one thing technology there hasnt been a laser or a cnc machine created that is that technologicly advanced that would be able to make those cuts without shattering the crystal or without leaving traces of tool marks there will be others found they were made for a purpose its our purpose to find what it is
ejdalise says
Yeah, there’s no chance anyone with serious monetary investment would lie to everyone’s face.
As with most things, people will believe what they will, and be rabid about it in the process . . . one of the reason I hold so little hope for mankind’s survival.
But even if they are “real” . . . it’s a piece of quartz. How does it differ from any other piece of matter as far as holding “the secret of the universe”? Can anyone point to any shred of information gleamed from any of skulls (or any other mambo-jumbo-spiritual-mystic crap) people go ga-ga over?
C.Wilson says
There are 10 prediction given in the book The Skull Speaks – with time all have been proven. Serious money hahaha
ejdalise says
Let me ask you this; if you had all sorts of predictions for humankind (some very scary), and you knew the “secrets of the universe, and the origins of humankind”, would your first instinct be to make $40 for each book you can sell about it all?
Because, you know, it comes right back to money, and the saps . . . er. . . hopeful who time after time are willing to spend it for the same rehashed stories by an endless line of charlatans . . . er . . . channellers who profess quartz-reading skills.
But hey, whatever floats your boat . . . which you might need in 2012 when the world will end.
Some Thoughts says
I think your quote about rabidly believing things should be reflected on, ejdalise.
In your efforts to disprove the possibility of the skulls being genuine, you’ve missed an important part of the whole affair.
Even should they not be magical, mystical, “mumbo-jumbo-spiritual”, or otherwise supernatural, they’re clearly more than a piece of quartz.
A piece of quarts happens in a set and explained process in the earth. These skulls were “carved” (for lack of a better explanation) by intelligent makers by means that many of the brightest minds of the modern era can neither comprehend nor replicate.
Even just from a scientific, historical, artistic, or cultural standpoint, the methods used to create them are fascinating. They suggests forgotten knowledge, brilliant forgery, patience well beyond the normal human limit, or even the possibility of non-human construction.
In short, I’d consider these skulls to be something to go “ga-ga” over, and I’d suggest you try going ga-ga over something some time. You may find you like it.
Ramon says
Oh. PLEASE! The skulls are not fake, but they ARE NOT mystical in anyway. They were carved using modern methods of fabrication. Those that were tested were proven to be modern.
“These small crystal skulls have been individually hand-carved out of real high quality quartz crystal by skilled carvers in Brazil.” http://www.crystalskulls.com/indie-crystal-skull.html
If quartz cannot be carved ‘against the grain’ then explain how these carved quartz miniature replicas were carved?
“Electron microscope analysis for tool marks found both skulls were carved with rotary disc-shaped tool — a technology which the Ancient Mexicans did not have. Analysis of the quartz in the British Museum skull suggests it was quarried from Brazil or Madagascar — far outside the Ancient Mexicans’ trading links.” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080523163016.htm
So much for for not being able to be made by modern tools.
Go to the last link above. Only a fanboi would believe these were more than just a chunk of rock.
p.narayana raju says
‘THE ALIENS ARE COME BACK’ AND TOOK THE SKULL
p.bhargav varma says
First of all the crystal skulls are real.It’s a bummer, and would be cool if it were true, but alas, this is just another in a long line of new age hoaxes.
good bye
walker says
i am going to find a skull if it kills me
walker says
i know where 3 are, I swear I know Ive spent 4 years researching this
michieee says
I heard from a friend that there were 13 skulls and the NASA ppl had found 8 of them. and that they need to find all of it and bring it together to save the earth from the 2012 real or fake myth…. and then i heard it unleashes a power to save the earth.. o-o well…. dont get me wrong o________O
Bobby says
In April 2009, Five, a television channel, took the story and revealed that the Mitchell-Hedges Skull, recently tested under a special microscope in the Smithsonian Institution, had been manufactured with tools that Aztecs and Mayans simply did not have. Like the other skulls, this one is a fabrication dating from the second half of the 19th century.
The crystal skull of the British Museum -The British Museum catalogs the skull’s provenance as “probably European, 19th century AD” and describes it as “not an authentic pre-Columbian artefact”. It has been established that this skull was made with modern tools, and that it is not authentic.
The largest of the three skulls sold by Eugène Boban to Alphonse Pinart (sometimes called the Paris Skull), about 10 cm (4 in) high, has a hole drilled vertically through its center. It is part of a collection held at the Musée du Quai Branly, and was subjected to scientific tests carried out in 2007–08 by France’s national Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums in France, or C2RMF). After a series of analyses carried out over three months, C2RMF engineers concluded that it was “certainly not pre-Columbian, it shows traces of polishing and abrasion by modern tools.” Particle accelerator tests also revealed occluded traces of water that were dated to the 19th century, and the Quai Branly released a statement that the tests “seem to indicate that it was made late in the 19th century.”
The Smithsonian skull was mailed to the Smithsonian anonymously in 1992, and was claimed to be an Aztec object by its donor and was purportedly from the collection of Porfirio Diaz. It is the largest of the skulls, weighing 31 pounds and is 15 inches high. It was carved using carborundum, a modern abrasive. It has been displayed as a fake at the National Museum of Natural History.
now I dont know if “YOU” call this proof, But I do.
Wise One says
Hmmm….. I wonder what makes modern man think that ancient mexicans did not have rotary tools…. There have been many instances in history, documented and proven, where we think we have come up with a new concept with mechanics… Only to find out some ancient civilization has already done it, albeit to a rather more primitive method.
I’m on the fence, honestly… I know that there are certain forces which influence this world beyond that of human beings… And no, I don’t mean God, spirits, aliens, or what have you… But I also know that there are massive amounts of hoaxes…
Personally, as it is… I intend on collecting these skulls in the future, and running tests that none seem to have thought of doing on these skulls by now… Fascinating the lack of imagination in modern man…
Anyhow… Twenty years or so, I’ll let all of ya know weather these crystal skulls are anything beyond elaborate beautiful pieces of art, or some sort of database with knowledge to lead humans to a better future…
Colfaxguy says
Open to interpetation. Man has been on earth for many of years,Who is not to think that we have not been in this advanced state of humanity before, and maybe,just thinking out of the box, if the skulls were made by rotorey tools,that we have now,and maybe we had them long before. Is it at all possiable that it is a message from the last surviving Humans romming the earth running from ther own disaster. SOUND FAMILIAR ISNT THAT WHAT WE FACE TODAY. We rebuild everything . Why would we not be inclined to rebuild HUMANITY, and all that was . We will probably need to do it a couple more times, if we dont kill the great place we all love first.
GunDoc says
Just a few more points to ponder about the manufacturing process used in making the skulls. Anyone who thinks the Maya did not have the technology to carve quartz is wrong. I flint knap arrow heads and spear points as a hobby. I have also made five quartz carvings using nothing more than pine rosin and commercial diamond dust mixed together then spread on a dried bone or leather then allowed to dry. Take your crystal and use the bone tool with course dust and a little water or animal fat and you can cut through quartz rather quickly. The leather saturated in fine dust and rosin polishes like you wouldn’t believe. If I am not mistaken sapphire or ruby dust will also work. Ancient rotary tools don’t exist?!? Ever heard of a Bow Drill?!? I admit a Bow Drill is no modern Dremel tool, but they achieve the same results. With these facts in mind COULD the skulls have been made by the Maya? Yes, in my opinion they had the means to make them. Now does this prove they made them, no. My question is if the Maya had the means to carve quartz, why don’t we see other ceremonial items made from carved quartz?
R2 says
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” –A. Einstein
Oscar Merida says
i belive that Stone Hendge is finished, and all 13 skulls are placed inside in a circle then the outer diameter of the stones act like a canon, making it a portal, or gateway, to earths in other gallaxys.
I study in Guatemala 6 years, although crime is out of hand and you don’t allways know who is curropted or not.. i allways felt at peace with my self and the locals around me.
I can’t wait for the rest of the skulls to turn up. i wonder if my theary will be thought of.
well i’m too drunk to go on, gotta sleep this off.
Nick parker says
I don’t know if the skulls are real or fake but is it so far fetched to believe that the govt. Is trying to purposefully fabricate information to make the skulls seem fake so they can find the rest themselves?? I wouldn’t rule that out
caro says
the are real, the crystal skulls; but the truth is the only hope humanity has to save this planet, and all the life is whithin in us. hte humanity in the whole world is facing a lot of troubles, desparation, war, femine, confusion, we are desperate to believe in something,there is a crisis in religion, love,in realtionships, if we do not turn to God, believers or not believers, and really work for a change together, and stops wars and, poverty, etc. we are not to survive, to teach the next generation the wonderfull things that exist. so stop looking for skulls and look in your hearts.
Aria says
There was a mystery behind these??? LOL I just thought they were cool looking.
No wonder they became so popular. But geez, mystical??? Doesn’t the fact that they look man-made/modern say it all? haha 🙂
Luis says
Many people seem to want to involve a higher power or some other super intelligence that is not of earth when comes to things like crystal skulls, pyramids, even crop circles. The ignorant will always underestimate the intelligence of ancestors. In my opinion they are just awesome looking great to look at.