They are the mysterious items featured in the new Indiana Jones film and were once thought to be made by sophisticated ancient cultures. But a new scientific study has revealed two of the most famous crystal skulls are much more modern. This report from Paul Rincon:

Listen to the story

The skulls in question are held at the British Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. But they were probably manufactured using modern tools and polishing methods never available to the Aztecs or Mayans.

Who made the fake skulls is still a mystery, but some suspect a 19th Century French antiquities dealer was behind the British artefact. Archaeologists say the work should end decades of speculation over the origins of these controversial objects. But the discovery could disappoint the many enthusiasts fascinated by the beauty and sophistication of these intriguing carvings.

Paul Rincon, BBC Science Reporter

Listen to the words

translucent
almost but not completely clear; you can see through a translucent object but not completely

relics
interesting objects from the past

fakes
not genuine but copies

crafted
made

a burgeoning antiquities market
a growing popularity in buying old items

Aztecs or Mayans
old civilizations from what is now Mexico and southern Mexico/northern Central America.

suspect
believe

was behind
was responsible for

artefact
old object which has historical importance

decades of speculation
tens of years of argument, discussion and guessing

Read more about this story

To take away
Download or print (36 K)