Crystal Skull

March 30th, 2010 Phyllis, my able assistant and spiritual consultant, and I were invited to the Natural History Museum in Santa Barbara at the invitation of Dr. Ray Corbett PhD, Associate Curator of the Archeology. I had contacted him by email to see if they might be interested in examining the crystal skull Compassion. I wanted to see if my examination was accurate. With no formal training all I can do is report what I see. I owe it the readers of this site to get my information as accurate as possible. Dr. Corbett assured me he was interested in seeing this unusual crystal skull and wanted to know if I would mind he ask his friend, Geologist, Dr. John Minch PhD to join us.

I assured them that was my intent, to get scientific observations on the skull. The more the better. I was full of anticipation to see what they would have to say after my 7 months of experiencing the uniqueness of this crystal skull on a daily basis. I had my own views and wanted confirmation.

The Natural History Museum is in a most beautiful location with a stream running over boulders and several types of Oak trees and local flora, we got there early and just parked, got out an enjoyed the atmosphere. I highly recommend it for a place to pick nick while you are there to see all there is. It's behind the Santa Barbara Mission so easy to find.

Dr. Ray Corbett was there to greet us and took us to the Geology department. Dr. John Minch came along and we started. Right away, I had to bite my tongue, listen and let them just talk amongst themselves. They agreed the skull was a most unique work of craftsmanship. Dr. Minch said the rock matrix I call it was in fact a fissure in the quartz that had filled with Iron Oxide prior to it's final cooling off and used the example of "paint." to describe it's thickness. Dr. Minch was the head of the Geology Department for 20 years, a Gemologist and lapidary expert. This was the man (in the foreground) with so many years experience, as he told me, I will tell it as I see it with no prejudice one way or the other. This was everything I had hoped for.

Dr. Ray Corbertt the Archeologist ( using loop on skull) was interested in the dating of the carving and process involved in such a detailed work. Dr. Minch said, " I have no idea when it was carved as the ancients had access to harder materials than quartz and could have easily placed some on say, a piece of leather and used it to polish the quartz. It took a long time and slow process to get these results.

He examined skull and when he got to the underside of the maxilla (front teeth area) along with Dr. Corbett agreed this area was ground by hand and not by machine! This was big for me as I had examined it myself with 10 power loop and saw uneven and lumpy polishing marks. There are area's that the inclusions terminate and leave "surface fractures" the sanding literally skip over high spots when working by hand.

Dr. Minch said; " You can see in this area where a little pie shaped area has allowed the carver to slide go over and around it and left a pattern not consistent with a grinding wheel that would have cut this area out completely." Interestingly enough this was the only area on the skull or jaw that was not finish polished.

I ask about the "grain of the skull" and what he could tell us. Dr. Minch stood the skull vertical and with teeth pointing up said it was cut from a larger crystalline mass, this is how it was originally. I ask if the fractures on the skull would shatter if a modern grinding machine was used on the cranium section and he said, " Well if I was doing it I would go very slowly and not let the heat build up. If one was very careful it could be done I suppose. I am not saying one way or another how the skull was carved."

I ask about the Jaw. I felt it was actually cut from the skull. They both examined it and Dr. Minch found golden rutile in both skull and jaw. "It was from the same piece of quartz, but not so sure about if it was cut directly from skull as it would have been extremely difficult without breaking the jaw."

below: See the vertical foil? Also, on the front foil curves through the maxilla through jaw. (where the inclusions left the skull and then entered the jaw)

I had other things to demonstrate how I felt the jaw was cut from skull. They were noncommittal on the subject as with the carving. Dr Minch did concede the skull was irregular. From the front the Maxilla curved to the left as you face the skull, The cranium is not in proportion in that one lobe is larger than the other lending to the thinking that it was not machine cut. Otherwise it would have been symmetrical. He was still not commenting on how or why. I was impressed at the professionalism and matter of fact these men of Science show us for over 2 hours of their time.

You can see the "air" bubble in solution. Dr. Minch had me remove the jaw for safety and then rocked the skull forward and back. He was surprised to see the bubble "MOVE!" He then said what he saw was the bubble move the distance of half the thickness (about 1 mm) up and down in some kind of solution (probably water) He went on to say it was caused by the water finding a way into the skull and trapping the air in a little void. The skull cooled and isolated the air bubble. (This means to me anyway the air is dated the time the quartz cooled off and is pure air of it's time. Like the Iron Oxide that can be dated but never will.)

You are looking though over 1" of clear quartz. If you can identify these "bumps" as something that washed into the void with the iron oxide or feel it's a true fossil as I am hoping then please let me know. I see an outline or shape to something? Dr. Minch felt the "bumps" were contamination from some Iron Oxide that found it's way into the fissure.

I told him I was hoping it was a "fossil" of something prehistoric that had been pressed into the Iron Oxide and then trapped inside the clear quartz. Dr. Corbett said, "Scorpion" in outline if you look at the red portion. This got me going but they would not speculate on what it was. We laughed and called it a day. I am so indebted to them both. I have endeavored to be accurate. If anyone see's something in this photo please contact me. Thank you.

All and all I was extremely happy with the results. I learned the matrix in the back was a result of Iron Oxide solution "leaking" into a void in the quartz. I thought the quartz had broken off the main rock face and them become encapsulated by Quartz on the other side.

I hadn't realized the skull itself was out of proportion. This is important as modern skulls are the same I am told. They were non committal on the date of the carving of the skull. They agreed the area under the maxilla was done by hand and that was the only part showing any polishing marks. (Why this area was left is maybe a trademark of the carver?)

These answered my considerations about the skull. Dr. Minch and Dr. Corbett were honest and very analytical. They were not making any subjective speculations just acknowledging the facts as they saw them ask I am relaying them to you. A Museum can be wonderful for many reasons.

Crystal Skull "COMPASSION"

The Sacred Feminine