Fingerprints on Crystal Skulls

The description of item #1491 of the Leavitt auction catalog, in the “Geology, Mineralogy, Gems” section reads “Human skull, natural size, dolicephalous in shape, deep eye-sockets, nose cavity, upper and lower jaws, cut from a large and solid block of hyaline rock-crystal. Smooth polished surface. A magnificent, perfect and unique specimen. Length 20, height 14 ½, width 13 centimeters. Mexico” (Leavitt 1886a: 84). Following this physical description, the catalog goes on to present a series of essentially truthful statements through which Boban adroitly misleads potential buyers into thinking that this skull and others like it are actually pre-Columbian artifacts. This