The crystal skulls are a particularly notable example of the popularization of pseudoarcheological ideas. ^[1]

Origin

Pseudoarchaeological Impact

Tied to Atlantis and also aliens

supernatural powers

pop culture and Indiana Jones

Electron Microscope analysis reveal modern tool marks

probs mid to late 1800s

crystal from Brazil or Madagascar and manufactured in Germany

no similar artifacts on real archaeological excavations

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Some believe the skulls to be of Aztec or Mayan origin, while others think them to be from Atlantis or outer space. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Walsh" defined multiple times with different content

↑ Walsh, Jane MacLaren. "Legend of the Crystal Skulls." Archaeology 61.3 (2008): 36-41.