THE MYSTERY OF THE CRYSTAL SKULLS
Lubaantun is a pre-Columbian ruined city of the Maya civilization in southern Belize, Central America.
The Crystal Skull (allegedly one of thirteen such skulls) was the subject of a video documentary made in 1990 called, Crystal Skull of Lubaantun. It was examined and described by Smithsonian researchers as "very nearly a replica of the British Museum skull—almost exactly the same shape, but with more detailed modelling of the eyes and the teeth."
As far as can be ascertained, F.A. Mitchell-Hedges (a self-styled 20th century explorer said to have inspired the Indiana Jones character) himself made no mention of the alleged discovery in any of his writings on Lubaantun. Furthermore, recent evidence has come to light showing that F.A. Mitchell-Hedges purchased the skull at a Sotheby's auction in London on October 15, 1943.
As the most famous crystal skull, (aka “Skull of Doom”) it has been the subject of a lawsuit from the Belize institute of Archeology, who claim that Paramount Pictures and Disney illegally profited from the skull’s likeness, and that it should be returned to it’s rightful origin.
