Jane MacLaren Walsh facts for kids

Jane MacLaren Walsh is an anthropologist and researcher at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. She is well-known for her important work in finding and showing that many supposed ancient artifacts are actually fakes. Her research helps us understand true history better.

Early Life and Learning

Jane Walsh grew up in Mexico, a country rich in ancient history. She studied at the University of the Americas, where she earned both her first degree (B.A.) and a master's degree (M.A.). Later, she continued her studies at the Catholic University of America. There, she earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology. Her special research for her Ph.D. was about the "Myth and imagination in the American story: the Coronado expedition, 1540-1542." This shows her early interest in how stories and history mix.

Investigating Ancient Objects

Walsh's main research area is crystal skulls. These are objects that many people claim are very old and from ancient cultures, especially from Mesoamerica. However, archaeologists often find that these crystal skulls are not truly ancient. They are usually modern fakes.

Her interest in these mysterious objects began in 1992. That year, a crystal skull was sent to the Smithsonian Museum without anyone knowing who sent it. This started her journey into investigating these interesting, but often fake, artifacts.

Famous Cases of Fake Artifacts

Jane Walsh has looked into many important cases of objects claimed to be ancient.

• Crystal Skulls: She has studied several crystal skulls. Many of these were said to be from ancient Mesoamerica, especially from the Aztec people. Her work often showed that these claims were not true.
• Tlazolteotl Statue: Another famous case involved a piece at the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. This object was thought to be an ancient representation of Tlazolteotl. Tlazolteotl was an important goddess for the Aztec and other central Mexican cultures. Walsh's research helped to figure out if this piece was truly from ancient times.

Her work helps museums and people around the world understand which artifacts are real and which are not. This is very important for learning about history and protecting true cultural heritage.