The Truth Behind: The Crystal Skulls
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Barry Lui Crystal Skull
Contributor Barry Lui and his crystal skull in Beijing, China. Although crystal skulls are manufactured on a daily basis, an exact replica of the famous Crystal Skull or Skull of Doom is a delicate, time consuming job.
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Illuminated Crystal Skull
Showing the crystal skull illuminated. Carved from solid pieces of rock crystal, crystal skulls began making appearances at the 19th century.
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Crystal Skull Attached to EEG Machine
Close up of the skull attached to the EEG machine. Connections an EEG show no activity whatsoever inside the skull. No brain activity, no electrical activity, absolutely nothing. Even if there were signals outside normal human responses, the EEG would pick it up.
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Laser-Illuminated Skull
A laser illuminating the skull. There have been many claims to the powers of crystal skulls, including capabilities to communicate to shoot laser beams from the eye sockets and transmit messages to other crystal skulls.
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Examining Crystal Skull at the Smithsonian Institute
Scott Whittaker from the Smithsonian Institute examines the crystal skull.
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Prepping the Jaw Mould
Gloria Nusse prepares to mould the jaw of the Crystal skull. Gloria Nusse specializes in rebuilding the faces of human remains for the San Francisco Police Department. Her skills will help researchers see if the crystal skull had any features similar to native pre-Columbian central Americans.
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Halfway Through the Molding Process
The crystal skull half way through the moulding process. Identifying the features of the Skull of Doom will be a major step towards proving whether or not it was crafted in Central America. If it is confirmed, then the legend that says that it was used by Maya Priests to will death could also be true.
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Painting on the Mold for the Crystal Skull
Gloria paints on the mould for the Crystal skull. Details in the carving suggest the skull's maker must have used a real one for reference. In theory it should be possible to I.D. the racial origin of that skull.
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Specialist Gloria Nusse Working on Re-creation
Gloria dries the clay for the face of the skull. Specialist Gloria Nusse is impressed by the detailed design of the Crystal Skull. She will use her talents in silicone and clay to rebuild the facial features that according to legend is 3,600 years old.
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The Face of the Crystal Skull
Final adjustments to the face of the Crystal skull. The recreated clay features resemble those of a European woman in her mid-twenties, not those of a pre-Columbian central American.
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Lubantuun Site in Belize
Santiago Coc and John Morris at the Lubantuun site in Belize. It was at Lubantuu that adventurer Mitchell-Hedges claimed to have found the crystal skull known at the Skull of Doom. Yet the Skull of Doom does not resemble Maya art or other ancient Maya artifacts.
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Lubantuun Ruins
Showing more of the ruins at Lubantuun. Adventurer F.A. Mitchell-Hedges gave few details as to how he obtained the Crystal Skull. However, he wrote elaborate description about the properties of the Crystal Skull: "It is at least 3,600 years old and used by the High Priest of the Maya. It is said that when he willed death with the help of the skull, death invariably followed."
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Crystal Skull From Above
The skull from above with the equipment. The crystal skulls gained a dark notoriety as mysterious relics made by the Aztecs and used in their most bloody rituals.
