An
out-of-place artifact (OOPArt) is a term coined for an
object of historical, archaeological or paleontological
interest found in a very unusual or seemingly impossible
context.
The term "out-of-place artifact" is rarely used by
mainstream historians or scientists, anomaly being the
preferred term; rather OOPARTS use is largely confined to
the fringe sciences or pseudoscience of cryptozoology,
proponents of ancient astronaut theories, and paranormal
enthusiasts. The term is used to describe a wide variety of
objects, from anomalies studied by mainstream science to
pseudoarchaeology that is far outside the mainstream.
Though it does have a place in cryptoarchaeology, in
attempting to comprehend intrusive or contaminating
artifacts found at legitimate sites.
Critics argue purported OOPArts are most often the result of
mistaken interpretation, wishful thinking, or extreme
cultural centrism (the belief that a particular culture
couldn't have created an artifact or technology because they
were too ignorant or simply not smart enough). Supporters
regard OOParts as evidence that mainstream science is
overlooking huge areas of knowledge, either willfully or
through ignorance. OOParts are frequently outright hoaxes.
However, some OOParts are the result of site contamination
either from looting or previous investigation.
OOPArts are often of interest to creationists and others who
seek evidence that may refute the theory of evolution or
support the notion of a global flood; they are also used to
support religious descriptions of pre-history, ancient
astronaut theories, or the notion of vanished civilizations
that possessed knowledge or technology more advanced than
our own. Many writers or researchers who question or
challenge conventional views of human history have used
purported OOPArts in attempts to bolster their arguments.
In short,
legitimate anomalies may be referred to as ooparts, though
the term is in disrepute.
Uncorroborated and Alleged Examples of OOParts:
Objects alleged to come from recognized cultures,
recovered in unexpected places
The
Fuente Magna, discovered in Bolivia. Ceramic bowl
with writing in alleged Sumerian cuneiform.
Fuente Magna
The
Kensington Runestone, purported to be a 14th century
Norse artifact found in Minnesota.
Kensington Runestone
The
Maine
Penny,
found in Blue Hill, Maine. An 11th century Norse
coin found in an American Indian shell midden. Over
20,000 objects were found over a 15-year period at
the Goddard site in Blue Hill. The sole non-Native
artifact was the coin.[3] One hypothesis is that it
may have been brought to the site from a Viking
settlement in Newfoundland by seagoing Native
Americans.
Maine Penny
The
Spirit Pond
Runestones, claimed, like the Kensington
Rune Stone, to be from the 11th or 14th century,
found in Maine.
Spirit Pond
Runestones
The
Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca
Head, a terracotta head found
in Mexico that some say is of Roman origin.
Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca
Head
Objects allegedly produced by unknown cultures
The
so-called Baghdad Battery,
the name given to three terracotta jars, thought by
some to be galvanic cells dating from the Sassanid
dynasty (224-640 AD).
Baghdad Battery
The
Baigong Pipes, pipelike features found in a cave in
China.
Baigong Pipes
The
Coso
Artifact, a lump of rock or clay containing a
spark plug from the 1920s, though it allegedly took
thousands of years to form.
Coso
Artifact
The
Crystal Skulls, claimed to
have been found at Lubaantun, in Yucatan and in
Belize. (see
www.crystalskulls.us for the facts).
The
Dorchester Pot,
a Victorian-era candlestick found in Massachusetts,
apparently alleged to pre-date European settlement
in the Americas.
The
Dendra Lamps, representations of lotus flowers
engraved into a relief in a temple dedicated to Hathor, Egyptian Goddess of the Milky Way, and
alleged by some to actually represent electrical
lamps.
The
Iron Man (Eiserne Mann), dating to the 13th century.
Iron Man (Eiserne Mann)
The
Lake Winnipesaukee
Mystery Stone.
Lake Winnipesaukee
Mystery Stone
The
Wolfsegg Iron, a cubical block of metal in coal
found in Austria.
The
Ica Stones, from
Ica, Peru,
allegedly depicting anachronistic images such as
dinosaurs and modern medical procedures. (see
www.NazcaMystery.com for more).
Ica Stones
The
Kingoodie Hammer (also called the London Hammer),
from Scotland, purportedly an iron nail dated from
460 to 360 million years ago.
Kingoodie
Hammer
The
Klerksdorp Spheres,
from South Africa, dated 2.8 billion years ago –
their regular shapes lead to claims that they were
artificially created.
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»
A
Table Mountain Mortar and Pestle (or molcajete)
set discovered in Table Mountain (near Jamestown,
California), in a gravel deposit claimed to be
55 million years old; this claim has since been
discredited.
OOPARTS: It is
claimed that OOPARTS was originated by American
zoologist and cryptozoologist Ivan T. Sanderson.
CRYPROARCHAEOLOGY:
Cryptoarchaeology is the scientific study of historic or
prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of
their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such
remains that do not adhere to orthodox theory and
thought. The origin of Cryptoarchaeology is believed to
have first been coined and used by Professor of
Archaeology, Dr. Luis Ferrero, of the Universidad de
Costa Rica in a lecture in 1976. In a hand out paper, he
defined cryptoarchaeology as the scientific study of
objects and cultures conflicting with contemporary
orthodoxy. Dr. Ferrero is best known for his exhaustive
study of Central American archaeology, and specifically
for his encyclopedic volume "Costa Rica Precolombina"
published in 1979 by ECR (Editorial Costa Rica) as part
of the Biblioteca Patria, considered the definitive text
on the subject.
CRYPTOZOOLOGY: is the study of and
search for animals which fall outside of contemporary
zoological catalogs. It consists of two primary fields
of research:
• The search for living examples of animals
taxonomically identified through fossil records which
are considered to be extinct.
• The search for animals that fall outside of taxonomic
records due to a lack of empirical evidence, but for
which anecdotal evidence exists in the form of myths,
legends, or undocumented sightings.
A subset of the first field is the search for "out of
place animals," such as Phantom cats.
Those involved in cryptozoological study are known as "cryptozoologists";
the animals they study are often referred to as "cryptids",
a term coined by John Wall in 1983.
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