Chapter 11

Human tracks from dinosaur times
Humans developed only in the last 4 to 6 million years. This corresponds to our scientific knowledge today. But how do giant human footprints fit into this picture? They were found in the bed of the Paluxy River in Texas, USA? Many finds in the past 200 years do not match any known pattern: In Oklahoma, USA, this iron cup was discovered in an ancient lump of charcoal rock. These bone segments were found in Colombia. They come from a rock plate which is more than 100 million years old. Are they human fingers? How do the fossilised fingers from the American state of Texas fit into our view of the world? And who cultivated the fruit 100 million years ago? Their remnants were found in an Ecuadorian monastery.

A shoeprint and a hammer from ancient times
This fossilised print of a shoe sole was found in the American state of Utah in 1968. A crushed trilobite is lying on the print. How did it get onto the shoeprint? These ancient crustaceans died out some 230 million years ago. Is it possible that the sole imprint is older? That is impossible according to our current understanding of the history of Earth. - The best-known item from the gallery of scurrilous finds in the history of Earth is the “hammer from Texas”. At its discovery in 1832, it was completely enclosed in limestone. Geologists are certain: The hammer must be of the same age as the rock layer. However, they estimate the age of the rock at 140 million years. No human life existed at that time. Or did it? Sceptics have their own possible solution: The “hammer from Texas” was lost by a mine worker in the 19th century. But nevertheless it is a mystery: How did the hammer become enclosed in sedimentary rock so quickly?

Fossils which do not fit into the pattern
In Pennsylvania, USA, a collection of human bones was found over 20 years ago. The skull plates and skulls were in a 280 million year old layer of charcoal rock. How did such bones get into this geological layer? Journalist Ed Conrad tries to find out. But he could not convince any scientists to make detailed examinations of the unusual finds. Oddly shaped rock fossils are among the strangest of the controversial objects. They are reminiscent of a gall bladder, a liver, fingers, toes, a human lower jaw and the top of a skull. A 250 kilogram rock stands out. Its surface contours correspond to those of a fossilised human skull. Judging by the dimensions, it would have belonged to a giant.

The giant bones from Ecuador
The myths of all peoples tell of giants with superhuman strength. Most scientists doubt that there are real foundations for this. But a find from Ecuador might point to the existence of an unknown early race of giants. A collection of giant bones was found in the estate of the late Father Carlos Vaca. Anatomists identified one of them as the back of a human skull. They believe that another bone may be part of a human heel. Judging by its size, it would have belonged to a giant human or primate. In its lifetime, it would have been an unbelievable 7.50 metres tall. Mystery Park succeeded in completing a hypothetical reconstruction of this giant. Did more creatures than the dinosaurs die out 65 million years ago? Did the giants fall victim to the huge climatic catastrophe as well?