Like several others here, I was ripped off after I bid for a supposed saber-toothed tiger skull from China. Considering how little I paid for it (still a lot for me) I would have been happy to get it, even though I was pretty certain that it was a fake. But, I never even got it!
Every time I look at fossil skulls on eBay I see many of these Chinese fakes, which are all quite similar: some sort of skull, often a dog's, with large fake incisors added, and the whole filled with plaster to simulate a crude rock matrix. These guys are not very original!
For more detailed information and good photographs, see: http://www.paleodirect.com/fakechinesefossils3.htm
Since I wrote the above, I've noticed these Chinese skulls proliferating faster than athlete's foot in a cheap gym. And something else occured to me: since these are not real fossils (which would sell for much, much more if you could even get them out of China), I'm wondering if they may be a way to sell endangered animal parts. I have no proof, but Chinese merchants have been paying tribals throughout SE Asia to hunt for everything and anything that moves, for years now, largely for Chinese traditional medicines. Could these so-called fossil skulls be constructed over endangered leopard, tiger, bear and wolf skulls that would be otherwise illegal to ship to the US? If anyone has any ideas about what agency to contact to investigate, please do so!
Since I wrote the above, I've noticed these Chinese skulls proliferating faster than athlete's foot in a cheap gym. And something else occured to me: since these are not real fossils (which would sell for much, much more if you could even get them out of China), I'm wondering if they may be a way to sell endangered animal parts. I have no proof, but Chinese merchants have been paying tribals throughout SE Asia to hunt for everything and anything that moves, for years now, largely for Chinese traditional medicines. Could these so-called fossil skulls be constructed over endangered leopard, tiger, bear and wolf skulls that would be otherwise illegal to ship to the US? If anyone has any ideas about what agency to contact to investigate, please do so!
Guide created: 05/29/06 (updated 09/01/08)

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