An out-of-place artifact
) is a term coined by American zoologist Ivan T. Sanderson
for an object of historical, archaeological or paleontological interest found in a very unusual or seemingly impossible context. The term covers a wide variety of objects, ranging from material studied by mainstream science, such as the Iron pillar of Delhi
, to pseudoarchaeology
that is far outside the mainstream.
While occasional discoveries, such as the Antikythera mechanism, have led to scientists reassessing the technology of ancient civilizations, many critics argue purported OOPArts are more often the result of mistaken interpretation, wishful thinking, or extreme cultural centrism (the belief that a particular culture couldn't have created an artifact or technology because they were too ignorant or simply not smart enough). Supporters regard OOParts as evidence that mainstream science is overlooking huge areas of knowledge, either willfully or through ignorance. On occasion, OOParts may be outright hoaxes.
OOPArts are often of interest to creationists and others who seek evidence that may refute the theory of evolution or support the notion of a global flood; they are also used to support religious descriptions of pre-history, ancient astronaut theories, or the notion of vanished civilizations that possessed knowledge or technology more advanced than our own. Many writers or researchers who question or challenge conventional views of human history have used purported OOPArts to bolster their arguments.
Artifacts alleged to come from recognized cultures, recovered in unexpected places
Artifacts allegedly produced by unknown cultures or societies
- The Baghdad Battery, dating from between 250 BC and AD 250.
- The Baigong Pipes, unexplained pipes found in a cave in China.
- The Coso artifact, a lump of rock or clay containing a spark plug from the 1920s, though it allegedly took thousands of years to form.
- The Crystal skulls claimed to have been found at Lubaantun, in Yucatan and in Belize.
- The Dorchester Pot, a Victorian-era candlestick found in Massachusetts, apparently alleged to pre-date European settlement in the Americas.
- The Dendera Lamps, representations of lotus flowers engraved into a relief in a temple dedicated to Hathor, Egyptian Goddess of the Milky Way, and alleged by some to actually represent electrical lamps.
- The Dropa stones, also known as the Bayan Kara Ula Disks; supposedly found near Nimu in the Chinese region of Sichuan, and claimed to be 12,000 years old and the product of an alien civilization.
- The Iron Man (Eiserne Mann), dating to the 13th century.
- The Lake Winnipesaukee mystery stone
- The Wolfsegg Iron, a cubical block of metal in coal found in Austria.
Artifacts alleged to predate humanity
- The Acambaro figures, from Acámbaro, Mexico, some of which are in the apparent form of dinosaurs.
- The Ica stones, Peru, allegedly depicting anachronistic images such as dinosaurs and modern medical procedures.
- The Kingoodie hammer, Scotland, purportedly an iron nail dated from 460 to 360 million years ago.
- The Klerksdorp Spheres, South Africa, dated 2.8 billion years ago – their regular shapes lead to claims that they were artificially created.
- A mortar and pestle (or molcajete) set discovered in Table Mountain (near Jamestown, California), in a gravel deposit which a documentary version of Forbidden Archaeology claimed to be 55 million years old; this claim has since been discredited.
- The Maine Penny found in Blue Hill, Maine. An 11th century Norse coin found in an American Indian shell midden. Over 20,000 objects were found over a 15-year period at the Goddard site in Blue Hill. The sole OOPArt was the coin. One hypothesis is that it may have been brought to the site from a Viking settlement in Newfoundland by seagoing Native Americans.
- The Iron pillar in India, dating around to AD 423.
- The Antikythera mechanism, a geared device manufactured ca. 100 BC, believed to be an orrery for predicting the motion of the sun, moon and planets.
- Tablets and artifacts discovered in Glozel, France in the 1920s and '30s, some of which were inscribed with an unknown, undeciphered alphabet.
- Childress, David Hatcher (2000). Technology of the Gods: The Incredible Sciences of the Ancients. Adventures Unlimited Press. ISBN 0-932813-73-9.
- Hapgood, Charles H. (1979). Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings: Evidence of Advanced Civilization in the Ice Age. New York: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-47606-7.
- Brophy, Thomas G. (2002). The Origin Map: Discovery of a Prehistoric, Megalithic, Astrophysical Map and Sculpture of the Universe. Writers Club Press. ISBN 0-595-24122-0.
- Noorbergen, Rene (2001). Secrets of the Lost Races: New Discoveries of Advanced Technology in Ancient Civilizations. Teach Services. ISBN 1-57258-198-0.