Skull scandal in Rhineland-Palatinate: Manipulation of finds uncovered!

Skull scandal in Rhineland-Palatinate: Manipulation of finds uncovered!

Koblenz, Deutschland - At least 21 skulls and skull fragments in Rhineland-Palatinate are wrongly dated! An investigation by an external institute in Mannheim has shown that the results may have been manipulated by an official of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage. While two fragments could come from the fifth century BC, the others are considerably younger - they belong to the Middle Ages or modern times. Inner State Secretary Schneider speaks of a "suspicion" and introduces disciplinary investigations against the suspicious employee who faces the possible loss of his civil service relationship.

The review of the finds was triggered by a confidential request from a university. Schneider warned that other scientists may have based their work on this misleading finds. In order to avert further scientific damage, the public is now informed and comprehensive control of all prominent finds is tackled. In particular, the finds from emergency excavations in the Koblenz area are under observation. The Directorate General announced that it first critically looked at it in order to rule out future counterfeits. Further information is in a recent report by www.deutschlandfunk.de find.