The Apocalyptic Legend Of The 13 Crystal Skulls | Myth Hunters | Odyssey

Odyssey - Ancient History Documentaries

19 Jan 202449:28

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe story traces the origins of crystal skulls, beginning with Anna Mitchell-Hedges' claimed 1924 discovery of a skull in ruins in Central America. Several crystal skulls surfaced over the years, acquiring mythical statuses and mystical powers in New Age circles. However, tests ultimately revealed the famous skulls to be modern forgeries, not ancient Mesoamerican artifacts. The truth emerged that there was no evidence ancient civilizations ever made crystal skulls. Yet despite the debunking, many continue to believe in a legend that one day 13 original crystal skulls will reunite to reveal vital secrets.

Takeaways

😲 Anna Mitchell-Hedges claimed she found a beautiful crystal skull in ruins in Central America in 1924 that had magical powers
😮 Her adopted father Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges was an adventurer who explored Central America in the early 1900s
🤔 The Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull was thought to be linked to a legend about 13 ancient crystal skulls with mystical powers
😯 Over the years, Anna took the skull on tour and told tales about its magical qualities and origins
😕 But later research found that crystal skulls only seemed to surface after the 19th century
😠 Tests showed the Mitchell-Hedges and other famous crystal skulls were actually modern forgeries
🧐 There's no evidence ancient American civilizations like the Maya ever made or used crystal skulls
☹️ It emerged Frederick Mitchell-Hedges actually bought the skull in 1943, not found by Anna in ruins
😞 Anna invented the story to make money but probably ended up believing her own tale over time
😔 The legend of 13 ancient crystal skulls with mystical powers seems to be a modern myth with no basis

Q & A

Who was Anna Mitchell Hedges and what did she claim to have discovered?
-Anna Mitchell Hedges was the adopted daughter of explorer Frederick Albert Mitchell Hedges. In 1924, at age 16, she claimed to have discovered a beautiful crystal skull deep in the jungles of Central America.
What powers did Anna Mitchell Hedges believe the crystal skull possessed?
-Anna felt the skull had magical, telepathic powers. She claimed she could stare into its left eye socket and see the future.
What is the legend surrounding the crystal skulls?
-There is a legend that says there are 13 ancient crystal skulls in existence. One day, these 13 skulls will come together to solve some of the great mysteries of life.
Where and when did the first crystal skulls surface?
-The first crystal skulls only began to surface in public and private collections during the second half of the 19th century.
How did tests on the British Museum and Smithsonian skulls prove they were fake?
-Tests showed the skulls had evidence of rotary cutting wheels and industrial diamond heads, technologies not available to ancient civilizations. This proved they were modern forgeries.
What did tests reveal about the Mitchell Hedges skull?
-Examination showed evidence of modern diamond tools. This proved the Mitchell Hedges skull was also a modern fake.
Why did Anna Mitchell Hedges invent a story about finding the skull?
-It appears she invented the story to make money by promoting the skull as an ancient Mayan artifact after her father died and she needed income.
Did Anna's father Frederick mention the skull in his 1954 book?
-No. He didn't mention finding the skull in 1924 because he actually bought it at auction in 1943.
Is there evidence for the legend of 13 ancient crystal skulls?
-No. There is no convincing evidence this legend ever existed in Central America. It appears to be a modern invention.
What do tests reveal about the origins of famous crystal skulls?
-Tests show the famous skulls in museums and collections are actually modern forgeries made in Europe, not ancient Mesoamerican artifacts.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The story of Anna Mitchell-Hedges and her crystal skull discovery

Paragraph 1 introduces Anna Mitchell-Hedges, who in 1924 as a teenager claimed to have discovered a beautiful crystal skull in the jungles of Central America. The skull was thought to have mystical powers. The story of the skull's origins and Anna's alleged discovery is outlined.

05:01

😯 Exploring lost Mayan cities in Belize

Paragraph 2 describes how in the 1920s, Anna's adopted father Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges was exploring lost Mayan cities in Belize. Anna claimed that at the ancient ruins of Lubaantun, she discovered the crystal skull in a chamber inside a pyramid.

10:05

😲 Anna's dramatic tale of finding the crystal skull

Paragraph 3 details Anna's dramatic account of finding the crystal skull deep inside the pyramid at Lubaantun. She described seeing something shining back at her and realizing it was a beautiful crystal skull.

15:06

😀 Mitchell-Hedges acquires the skull and keeps it secret

Paragraph 4 explains how Mitchell-Hedges acquired the skull from Anna but kept it completely secret for 27 years until writing about it in his autobiography in 1954.

20:06

😯 Promoting the skull's mystical powers

Paragraph 5 discusses how Mitchell-Hedges' business colleague promoted the skull in the U.S. in the 1960s, claiming it had mystical powers. Scientific testing done in 1970 seemed to prove the skull was ancient.

25:09

😀 Anna tours with the skull and builds its mystique

Paragraph 6 describes how Anna started touring with the skull in the 1960s/70s, promoting its mystical legend. Many people were fascinated by the skull and its story.

30:11

😕 The legend of the 13 ancient crystal skulls

Paragraph 7 introduces the legend that there were 13 ancient crystal skulls with mystical powers, and that over the years some had been discovered. This included Anna's skull.

35:12

😲 Scientific tests reveal skulls are modern forgeries

Paragraph 8 details scientific tests done in the 1990s on crystal skulls in London, Paris and Washington which revealed they were actually modern forgeries made with modern tools.

40:13

😠 Anna's story of finding her skull is untrue

Paragraph 9 exposes records showing Mitchell-Hedges actually bought the skull at auction in 1943, proving Anna's dramatic 1924 discovery story to be untrue.

45:15

😞 Anna fabricated the story to make money

Paragraph 10 concludes that Anna likely fabricated the entire discovery story to make money off the skull after her father died. The legend of the 13 skulls appears to be modern invention.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡crystal skull

The crystal skull is the main subject of the video. It refers to a life-size clear quartz skull found by Anna Mitchell-Hedges in Belize in 1924. She claimed it had mystical powers and was made by the ancient Maya. Later investigations found it to be a modern forgery.

💡Maya civilization

The Maya were an advanced ancient Mesoamerican civilization located in modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. The video discusses Mitchell-Hedges' search for lost Maya cities where he claims the crystal skull was found.

💡archaeology

Archaeology is the scientific study of past human cultures through material remains. The video examines how modern archaeological analysis has debunked the myth around crystal skulls.

💡forgery

A forgery is a counterfeit or fake object made to deceptively appear ancient or valuable. Scientific testing revealed the crystal skulls to be expert forgeries made with modern tools.

💡legend

The legend of 13 ancient crystal skulls with mystical powers, which would one day come together, is central to the myth around the skulls. But the video shows this legend has no basis in evidence.

💡mystical

Having mystical powers relates to supernatural or magical forces beyond scientific understanding. The crystal skull myth relies on claims of the skull's mystical abilities.

💡pseudoscience

Pseudoscience refers to beliefs mistakenly regarded as scientific. The video portrays crystal skull pseudoscience versus evidence-based archaeology.

💡hoax

A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood. The crystal skull story was an elaborate hoax constructed over decades to fool the public.

💡gullible

Gullible means easily fooled or tricked. The video suggests the public's gullibility allowed Anna Mitchell-Hedges' hoax to endure so long.

💡skepticism

Skepticism is doubt about the truth of something. The video advocates skepticism and critical thinking rather than blind acceptance of extraordinary claims.

Highlights

Researchers developed a new method to measure blood flow in the brain using MRI

The technique uses arterial spin labeling and can measure cerebral blood flow in individual brain regions

Study found the method provided quantitative blood flow measurements with good reproducibility

Researchers were able to use the technique to measure regional differences in blood flow

Findings showed blood flow changes in certain brain regions in patients with Alzheimer's disease

The new MRI method could be used to study blood flow abnormalities in neurological disorders

Researchers discussed limitations of the technique including low signal-to-noise ratio

They suggested ways to optimize imaging parameters to improve quantification

Overall the study demonstrated feasibility of using MRI to quantify regional blood flow

Researchers plan to apply the technique to study brain disorders like dementia

The MRI method could provide insights into vascular contributions to neurodegeneration

Study introduced an innovative approach for measuring cerebral blood flow noninvasively

The technique has potential to advance understanding of brain perfusion abnormalities

Limitations present opportunities to further optimize and improve quantification

Overall an important step forward for studying blood flow in neurological diseases

Transcripts

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