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'Indiana Jones' skull on display | 'Indiana Jones' skull on display |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A crystal skull - said to be the work of an ancient south American civilization - is to go on public display in Edinburgh on Sunday. | A crystal skull - said to be the work of an ancient south American civilization - is to go on public display in Edinburgh on Sunday. |
It is claimed the skull, which is named after English adventurer and author FA Mitchell-Hedges, inspired the latest Indiana Jones film. | It is claimed the skull, which is named after English adventurer and author FA Mitchell-Hedges, inspired the latest Indiana Jones film. |
Some people believe it is 3,600-years-old, others claim it is a fake. | Some people believe it is 3,600-years-old, others claim it is a fake. |
The one-day viewing at the Hub on the Royal Mile has been organised by the Histories and Mysteries Conference. | The one-day viewing at the Hub on the Royal Mile has been organised by the Histories and Mysteries Conference. |
Bill Homann, the current owner of the Mitchell-Hedges skull, was among the speakers at the event. | Bill Homann, the current owner of the Mitchell-Hedges skull, was among the speakers at the event. |
He cared for the adopted daughter of Mitchell-Hedges for the last eight years of her life. | He cared for the adopted daughter of Mitchell-Hedges for the last eight years of her life. |
Anna Mitchell-Hedges claimed to have found the skull in 1924 - when she would have been about 17-years-old - buried under a collapsed altar inside a temple in Lubaantun, in British Honduras, now Belize. | Anna Mitchell-Hedges claimed to have found the skull in 1924 - when she would have been about 17-years-old - buried under a collapsed altar inside a temple in Lubaantun, in British Honduras, now Belize. |
Others believe her father bought the skull from an antiques dealer or at auction in the 1940s. | Others believe her father bought the skull from an antiques dealer or at auction in the 1940s. |
Scientific research | |
He mentioned the skull in the first 1954 edition of his autobiography, Danger My Ally, without specifying where or by whom it was found. | He mentioned the skull in the first 1954 edition of his autobiography, Danger My Ally, without specifying where or by whom it was found. |
He wrote: "It was at least 3,600 years old and according to legend was used by the High Priest of the Maya when performing esoteric rites". | He wrote: "It was at least 3,600 years old and according to legend was used by the High Priest of the Maya when performing esoteric rites". |
The British Museum in London has a similar skull on display, as does the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. | The British Museum in London has a similar skull on display, as does the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. |
Earlier this year, research published in the Journal of Archeaological Science claimed these two skulls were fakes and likely to have been made in the 1950s. | Earlier this year, research published in the Journal of Archeaological Science claimed these two skulls were fakes and likely to have been made in the 1950s. |
There are about a dozen similar skulls around the world. The Mitchell-Hedges skull, also known as The Skull of Doom, is perhaps the most famous. | There are about a dozen similar skulls around the world. The Mitchell-Hedges skull, also known as The Skull of Doom, is perhaps the most famous. |
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