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Jul 16, 2008 8:14 pm US/Central
Archaeologists On Alert For Fake Skulls
BOSTON (CBS) ―
While the crystal skull was the main plot device for the latest Indiana Jones Adventure, last week it was discovered the revered pieces of archeology are actually fake.
It takes a lot of detective work for archaeologists to uncover what is real and what isn't.
It was the inspiration for the latest Indiana Jones movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Legend says there are 13 of the ancient skulls that hold mystical powers.
So when a skull was anonymously donated to the Smithsonian in 1992 the museum began an investigation that would last 16 years.
Jeff Boudreau is an expert at the Massachusetts Archaeological Society and knows a thing or two about artifact investigations.
His specialty is Native American points, what many call arrowheads.
Boudreau recently authenticated a point found in Falmouth, Mass. as being 2,000 years old.
For years scientists relied on observations and experience to know whether they were fake or real, but now it's a more forensic exercise, using electron microscopes, chemical testing, and even lasers.
Boudreau says over time, the electrons in an article shift and a laser can pick up those shifts.
"If an artifact has been lying in the ground for thousands of years, both sides would be different," Boudreau explained. "If you take a modern replica both sides are going to be the same."
The more these detectives learn, the better they are at spotting fakes. Boudreau says about 30 years ago while illustrating a book, even he was duped.
"The light colored point here is 9,000 years old, but I realized later that this point I illustrated was a fake," he explained.
The Smithsonian spent 16 years investigating its crystal skull, which turned out to be a fake. But the museum put it on display anyway. The Smithsonian Channel is currently running a documentary on the crystal skulls.
Experts say people go through the trouble of making fakes because of money. Some people have lost tens of thousands of dollars buying what they thought were ancient artifacts.
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