Unexplainable and Non Recreatable Crystal Skulls

Sebastian Hernandez
 


red cloudy rhodochrosite skull


A century has gone by and the art of Crystal Skulls still intrigues and puzzles Scientists, Archaeologists, Museum Officials and Spiritualists. Disputes over the authenticity of these skulls have arisen and there’s so many unanswered questions, such as, who made them? when?, and how they were made? Their origins are unknown, despite that, scientists believe that Skulls were eminent in “ancient Mesoamerican artwork, particularly among the Aztec”. People believe that they were carved thousands of years ago by ancient civilizations from the region of Mexico, with the purpose of supernaturally healing and expanding psychic abilities. Coming in contact with a Skull is said to allow the Skull to “replay all events or images of the people who have come into contact with them”. Others believe that they are “a symbol of regeneration" since some gods were represented by skulls. Mictlantecuhtli was usually depicted by a skeleton since he’s the “Lord of the Land of the Dead” and in Mesoamerican art he can be seen covered in bones with red spots that represent blood, a necklace made of eyeballs, and with bone earrings hanging from his lobes.

 


Aztec god  Mictlantecuhtli in the Museo del Templo Mayor in Mexico City.

Crystal Skulls are an interpretation of human skulls, usually “made out of quartz crystal” . They vary in shape, size, weight, color and age. The age of the crystal from which the skull was made determines its age, and scientists study that because determining its place of origin or year it was carved remains unknown.

Today’s most famous Crystal Skull seems to be the rare Mitchell-Hedges Skull which was made of one single block of clear quartz crystal and its realistic characteristics make it stand out from the rest of the skulls found in museums today. The Mitchell-Hedges Skull is so unique that “today’s most talented sculptors and engineers would be unable to duplicate.” Said to have been discovered at an ancient Mayan temple by a young seventeen year old and her dad in 1927, the skull remains one of the most amusing and most studied skulls of the century. Frank Dorland, a scientist who was inclined to doing an extensive investigation on the skulls history came to many jaw dropping conclusions such as the sculpting of the skull without metal tools and the perfect alignment of the jaw. The purpose of the skull could range from being used as a toy, to the use of the skull as an oracle device. Reports of the skull changing color and making noises have been made. The Mitchell-Hedges Skull has set a bar so high that scientists have come to the conclusion that the advanced “lenses, light pipes, and prisms alone display a technical competence that the human race only achieved recently”.



The Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull


Today we see the influence of these Crystal Skulls in media like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The movie consists of archeologist Indiana Jones, who’s in the search of the legendary skull of Akator said to give people the power to control the world. A constant theme in the discussion of skulls is the topic of power and authority. Skulls continue to be studied today and these studies are unlikely to cease anytime soon due to the numerous amount of unanswered questions. 

Works Cited
Cartwright, Mark. "Mictlantecuhtli." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 22 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

"Crystal Skulls - Crystalinks." Crystal Skulls - Crystalinks. Crystalinks, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

Lovett, Richard A. "Crystal Skulls -- National Geographic." National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

Mictlantecuhtli. N.d. Mexico. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Mitchell Hedges Skull. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Rhodochrosite-Crystal-Skull-Sculpture. N.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

Links for further research:
 Smithsonian Skull and Others
"Research News." British Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
This is a research on different skulls found in history and it has lots of images of different skulls. Such as the one found in the smithsonian museum and in the british museum

Skull Facts
"The Truth Behind Crystal Skulls: Facts." National Geographic Channel. National Geographic Channel, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
This article posted on National geographic Website gives you facts on skulls and their history and making. It tells you about some examples of how skulls have influenced today’s culture.

How Crystal Skulls Work
Freeman, Shanna.  "How Crystal Skulls Work"  05 December 2007.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/crystal-skull.htm>  20 October 2015.
This article provides an indepth explanation of how crystal skulls work when it comes to their unrealistic powers. This article also mentions some more of Frank Dorland’s research and a bit more information behind the study of the Mitchell-Hedges Skull.