I tuned into Mystery of the Crystal Skulls last night and watched it for the first hour and a half before I got disgusted by the cult of crystal worshipers. The first segment of the show was interesting in that it talked about how the crystal skull was discovered by treasure hunter, Anna Mitchell-Hedges in the 1920s. More were discovered by her father, F.A. Mitchell-Hedges.

While it is said that these skulls are scattered throughout the world, the focus of this search remained in Central America, where the first skull was discovered. Bill Homann, widower of the late Anna Mitchell-Hedges and owner of the crystal skull, led the expedition through the jungles. His wife had given him the crystal skull as well as some treasure maps before she died in 2007.

Another interesting aspect of the show were the scientific experiments performed on this skull. Scientists immersed it into an alcohol solution as well as a laser experiment in order to determine how the skull was made and if, in fact, it contained hidden data that would save the planet from an apocalypse. If skull did contain any information, the scientists couldn’t find it. They did state, however, that it would have taken the Mayans 300 years of polishing and shaping to make this crystal skull. Even more fascinating was the fact that they didn’t find any telltale signs of tool markings on the crystal. So, how was it made?

Well, there are several theories, but I’ll discuss the one I remember the most. Former NASA consultant, Richard Hoagland theorizes that the skull was made by aliens and brought to the Mayas. If you are unfamiliar with Hoagland, read A New Shot of the Face of Mars. The show veers from its original theme as Hoagland discusses the controversial photographs taken by NASA, which he believes are evidence of an alien civilization that was once on Mars. That extraterrestrial theory is possible, although there is no evidence to support what Hoagland believes is fact.

After a commercial break, the show returns to Homman, who is trying to find another skull in the Belize jungle as well as the waters off the coast. He found another burial site in the jungle, but couldn’t excavate it without a permit. So he turned to the coast, only to get discouraged by the strong current and weather.

When Mystery of the Crystal Skulls delved into the healing power of crystals and crystal worshipers, my husband and I decided that we’d had enough and turned off the television. Another thing that irritated us was the constant references to the new Indiana Jones movie that is due to hit theaters this Thursday. Yes, we know what the movie is based on. To us, it didn’t have a place in a documentary.

That said, what we watched intrigued us enough to discuss it afterwards. I’ve always wondered what happened to the Mayas, who vanished without a trace. My husband is intrigued by the astrological aspects of the various ruins around the world. He believes that if this show had any scientific validity, it would have been broadcast on the Discovery Channel and not the Sci-Fi Channel. I can’t help but see his point.

The Modern Antiquarian has provided its extensive (over 7,000) UK & Eire megalithic sites database to Google Earth users. For those of us who can’t hop on a plane to visit Stonehenge or any of the other ancient sites, this is the next best thing.

The Modern Antiquarian Google Earth Plugin

Celebrity psychic Derek Acorah will star on Living TV’s Paranormal Egypt, which is scheduled to air on September 4th. According to The Sun Online, Derek had a harrowing experience in the bowels of one of the Great Pyramid that nearly cost him his life.

“It took me completely by surprise, and it wasn’t a pleasant one,” Derek said.

“We were filming in the main chamber of the Great Pyramid and I could tell there was a lot of spiritual activity going on.

“Forget Most Haunted, this was a stronger force than anything I’d ever encountered before.

“I heard something approaching and then ‘bang’, it hit me hard in the face and I started choking because I couldn’t draw a breath.

“There was a paranormal substance or powder that went across my mouth and into my nostrils, basically suffocating me.

“Thankfully the symptoms subsided but then I felt really sick and had to rest until the nausea passed.

“I’ve no idea what the entity was, but it’s obvious something didn’t want me there in the Great Pyramid.”

Fans of Living TV will get to watch this scene in its entirety. Another segment of the show involves Acorah establishing that the Curse of the Pharaohs was a myth. While I forget the names of the scientists who debunked the curse as a myth (years ago), I remember them explaining how the Egyptians would bring fruit into the tombs as part of the burial ceremony. The fruit had rotted, sending spores and bacteria into the air for those archaeologists to breathe. It will be interesting to see what Acorah has to say.

Steve Alten’s book “Domain” about six years ago, which was based on a race against time to prevent the Mayan’s 2012 apocalyptic prophecy. It was a great read on both the fictional side and Alten’s research about the prophecy, which is supposedly set to occur on December 12, 2012. In reality, this date is not too far into the future.

Similar to the Y2K, the public is beginning to take notice, thanks to publishers who are releasing books on this subject. “2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl” is perhaps the most popular book in the group, selling about 40,000 copies since it was released in May 2006. Other books have followed, ranging from scientific interpretations to doomsday hysteria. You can read more about them here.