For years, a few famous crystal skull have been a source of mystery and discussion. Even now, no one knows exactly who made them, and no one can say when.
Some people believe the Mesoamerican people made the skulls thousands of years ago. Some stories say they have special powers, such as the ability to make sick people well. Moviemakers love these stories. In the 2008 movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the skulls had great power. In the movie, a crystal skull is actually the head of an alien.
However, most scientists don't believe these stories. They think the skull are more modern. Scientists have found marks on the skulls that they believe only more modern technology could make. Because of this, scientists are certain the skulls are not thousands of years old. Instead, they think the skulls are from the 19th century. Scientists also point to the British Museums's excavations. The museum's archeologists have found many Mesoamerican objects, but they have never found a crystal skull. Scientists say this is more evidence to show they are fakes, and not really Mesoamerican.
Until we know more about the skulls, the mystery-and the debate-will keep going.