(Click on photo for high resolution)
Official World Site Malachite Man
Skeletons of ten perfectly modern humans have been excavated from fifty eight feet down in the Dakota Sandstone, over an area spanning about 50 by 100 feet. This formation is a member of the Lower Cretaceous, supposedly 140 million years old. It is known for its dinosaurs and is the same formation found at Dinosaur National Monument. At least four of the ten individuals are female. One is an infant. Some of the bones are articulated. Some are not, appearing to have been washed into place. No obvious tools or artifacts were found associated with the bones. The bulldozer driver who uncovered the first bones in 1971 expresses certainty that there were no tunnels or cracks in the extremely hard overlying layers of rock. The bones are partially replaced with malachite (a green mineral) and turquoise, thus appropriately named "Malachite Man".
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Malachite Man
The evidence appears obvious that these 10 men, woman and children, were buried rapidly by some catastrophe, like a flood. Articulated skeletons indicate rapid burial. Some propose to explain these bones by arguing that they were mining, when the mine collapsed. However there is no indication of tunnels, and woman and small children would not likely be included in a mining operation. Additionally, no tools have been found and there are no crushed bones which would be expected if the mine caved in. Another invalid explanation is that this is a mass grave and they were buried. This cannot be true because the living would have to dig a grave 50-100 feet deep through extremely hard sandstone layers. The modern mining operation was halted in the 1970's because the sandstone was so hard it was destroying the bulldozers. These humans appear to have been buried by the same catastrophe that buried dinosaurs in this continent spanning formation. Humans and dinosaurs must have lived at the same time!
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Panoramic view of the two excavation sites. The location of 1971 excavation site is slightly below center horizontal line and about 1/6th in from the left. The location of the 1990 excavation site is dead center of the photo. (Click on photo for high resolution) |
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The bull-dozer driver. (Click on photo for high resolution) |
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The bull-dozer driver points out the original location of where he found the first bones of Malachite Man. (Click on photo for high resolution) |
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Dr. Don Patton holding a human femur which has been replaced with malachite, found at the site. This brilliant green bone had just been excavated by Dr. Patton moments before this photograph was taken. (Click on photo for high resolution) |
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This perfectly modern human jaw bone and teeth have been completely replaced by turquoise and was found at the site. Note also a top view of the same jaw below, showing detail of the teeth. (Click on either photo for high resolution) |
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1971 Excavation : These bones, from two different individuals, a male and a female, were among the first bones found at the site.(Click on photo for high resolution) |
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1971 Excavation : A close up of these perfectly modern human bones.(Click on photo for high resolution) |
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1990 Excavation : These human bones appear to be articulated, but are not. They seem to have been washed into place.(Click on photo for high resolution) |
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1990 Excavation : These modern human bones are perfectly articulated, and include the pelvis, thigh bone, knee, shin bones, as well as a fully articulated delicate angle and foot bones. You can also see the second leg in the back ground still encased in the rock.(Click on photo for high resolution) |
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