Description
The crystal skulls are works of art carved from quartz or rock crystal in the shape of human skulls. These appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century and were originally attributed to various pre-Columbian civilizations. Research in the 1990s, using a scanning tunneling microscope among other methods, showed that at least a number of these skulls are forgeries. These were made with grinding tools that were not developed until the second half of the nineteenth century. There is a strong suspicion that a number of the crystal skulls were manufactured on commission for the French merchant Eugène Boban and sold by him. One of the most famous skulls is the Mitchell-Hedges skull. It is said to have been found by the British adventurer F.A. Mitchell-Hedges in a chamber beneath the ruins of Lubaantun in Belize. It later emerged that he had purchased this skull privately at the London auction house Sotheby's. His wife gave the reason that he had merely given the skull to someone as collateral and had bought it back through Sotheby's. After the death of Anna Mitchell-Hedges, the skull came into the possession of Bill Homann. In the 1990s, it turned out that the Mitchell-Hedges skull was also a fake. In the meantime, numerous hypes and legends have arisen surrounding the crystal skulls. Due to their supposed discovery site, they were allegedly manufactured centuries ago by the Mayans, the Aztecs, or an even older pre-Columbian civilization. They were also said to possess paranormal abilities, and one should never look them directly in the eyes. According to another legend, they have an extraterrestrial origin. Thirteen of them are said to be found on Earth. Once reunited, they would share their knowledge with humanity. Even today, the skulls still play a role within a part of the New Age community.
In fiction:
• In the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, all the above legends are combined.
• The Hidden Crystal, a book by Manda Scott, deals with the crystal skulls and the Mayan 2012 phenomenon.
• In the 21st episode of season 3 of the 2000 science fiction series Stargate SG-1 (Crystal Skull), Daniel Jackson disappears when he looks into a crystal skull.
• The Assassin's Creed series refers to the skulls, where they are ancient artifacts with mysterious powers.
Gemstone skulls. Gemstone skulls have been popular and mysterious for many cultures for decades. The skulls have a wide variety of meanings. Celtic skulls symbolize Time, Power, creation, initiation, and concentration. Celtic culture believes the skull is a seat of power and strength. Some texts refer to the skull as the seat of our soul. Archaeological discoveries teach us that the ancient Celts offered skulls to sacred sources. The skull is universally seen as a symbol of life and death. More recently, the skull has been linked to death and embracing our mortality. In times long past, the skull sometimes represented life. Skulls and skeletons are the symbol of the Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead. The skull and crossbones is a popular symbol for pirates and poison. Some healers use skulls to see visions of the present, past, and future. Other materials used include rose quartz, rock crystal, rhodonite, aventurine, and hematite.
The mystery of the skulls
Atlantisite is a combination of serpentine with stichtite.
The mineral serpentine, or clinochrysotile, is a magnesium-iron silicate with the chemical formula (Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4. It belongs to the phyllosilicate family. This amorphous mineral can be red, yellow, white, and green. The green color is typical of the mineral in the mantle rock serpentinite. Its hardness is 2.5 to 4, depending on the composition, and serpentine has an average density of 2.59. One of these minerals is classified as asbestos. Inhalation of this mineral is harmful to health. The mineral serpentine, like the rock serpentinite, is named after the Latin word serpens, meaning "snake." The shape in which the minerals have grown within the rock is reminiscent of a snake. It was also used in the past as a remedy for snakebites. The other name for serpentinite, clinochrysotile, is derived from the Greek words clinos, chrysos, and tilos ("crooked," "gold," and "fiber," respectively). It is so named because of the gold-colored, fibrous structure the mineral can assume. Serpentine is an indicative mineral for serpentinite, a peridotite often converted by hydrothermal activity. Under the influence of pressure and temperature, olivine and pyroxene from the mantle rock are converted into serpentine. This is sometimes called serpentinitization. The chemical reaction equation is: 4Mg2SiO4 (olivine) + 4H2O(l) + 2CO2(aq) → Mg6Si4O10(OH)8 (serpentine) + MgCO3 (magnesite) Serpentine is therefore a mineral found in areas where mantle rock has reached the surface, usually in orogens. In Greece and the Alps, serpentine is widely exposed.
Stichtite is a purple/pink stone often found in combination with serpentine. A stone with a combination of these two is also called atlantisite. Composition: Mg6Cr2(OH)16-4H2 & hardness: 1.5-2. Stichtite is found in Tasmania, among other places.
