The Crystal Skull: An Archaeological Mystery

During the mid-1950's, The Crystal Skull was brought to the public's attention by a British traveler named F. A. Mitchell-Hedges. He had allegedly found the artifact in the Honduras islands back when it was still under occupation. The skull is 11 pounds and 7 ounces of quartz Crystal, but beyond that, no other archaeological or scientific evidence has come through to pinpoint a time period or place that may decipher it's creator or meaning.

Story goes F.A. Mitchell-Hedges discovered the artifact between 1920 and 1929, but apparently said nothing else about it's origins except "How it came into my possession I have reason for not revealing." After his death his daughter, Anna, inherited the skull and has since kept the object away from public scrutiny or scientific investigation.

A number of theories have come from this finely crafted, anatomically correct skull- but none can be substantiated. Mayan tethers are not ruled out, but the craftsmanship does not match up. Actually, the skull looks more like a laser-cut icon manufacture late last year than a mystery dug out of Mayan mud. Even coming to conclusions about the tools used to carve such an intricate item out of one piece of quartz has proved impossible. The only identifiable attribute is how the bottom jaw can be removed. There, on the mandible, two small holes can be seen that may have been used to connect the piece with pegs to the rest of the head, indicating that the mouth was supposed to open for some reason.

There are a thousand theories about the skull and a thousand more testimonies of the skull's strange powers. According to The Encyclopedia of the Strange by Daniel Cohen, people who held the skull in possession gave testimony to strange smells permeating from it's location, or sounds like chimes, whistles or even cats. Allegedly, those who claimed the skull was a fabrication or fake were struck by horrible deaths.

Mitchell-Hedges also liked to fabricate stories and his reputations helped prevent elaborate ideas about the skull's origin from developing. Two writers for Fate magazine wrote their own article about the skull in 1984, concluding that the skull was likely bought from an auction and had belonged to an art dealer named Sydney Burney. But if the auction had taken place, many other jealous people would have gone to the press to destroy Hedge's phenomenal claims. It's more likely the skull was bought in private by Hedges, if it was bought at all.

Various imitations and versions of similar crystal skulls have been seen across the world, namely one that was exhibited for a time at The Museum of Mankind in London. But nothing has been able to compare to the seamless structure and beautiful design as Hedge's skull. 'The Crystal Skull of Doom' as it was sometimes called is still an archaeological mystery without an answer, and as long as Anna Mitchell-Hedges will have it, the crystal skull will remain that way for generations.