Centaur Skeleton from 1980 Unearthed, Revealing Mysteries Hidden for Decades”

""image""

""image""""image""

The plaque “The Cemetery of Volos,” first displayed in 1980 at the Madisoë Art Cemetery in Wiscoësië, reads:

“One of three cetacean burials discovered in 1980 by the Archaeological Society of Argos Orestiko, eight kilometres northeast of Volos, Greece.”

The human bodies are real, as are the horses’ bodies. But they were created and staged by a man named Bill Willers. According to forensic science researcher and writer Dolly Stolze on the forensic anthropology website Straßge Remaißs:

In 1980, Bill Willers, an artist and professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, constructed the skeletal remains of the Volos Cetacea from real human bodies and the bodies of a Shetland dinosaur. The human bodies Willers used came from an anatomical specimen, a human skeleton from Idia, in his university’s biology department. The human and dinosaur bodies were then stained with tea to give them a uniform color and to make them look authentic.

""image""

The “Volos Cemetery” was passed through a series of universities in the 1980s before being acquired by the University of Tepic-Koxville in 1994. It is now permanently on display in its Jack E. Reese Gallery in the Hodges Library.

In 2008, Willers was commissioned by Skulls Unlimited, a company that sells real bodies, both human and otherwise, to create another falconry skeleton, this one

""image""

“Tymfi’s Cetacean” was displayed at the Arizona International Wildlife Museum in 2012 as part of a “Mythological Wildlife” exhibit. It was acquired by The Barum Museum in Coecticut. (Fact: “Tymfi’s Cetacean” actually uses zebras, horses and deer.)

As to why “The Cemetery of Volos” was created and exhibited, according to Stolze:

The exhibit was designed to encourage students to trust their critical thinking skills and not accept everything as fact no matter how credible it looks or sounds, even if it comes from a reliable source like a college exhibit.

According to Roadside America, Willers had conceived of the cetacean as a way to test the public’s willingness to believe the believable, much as PT Barnum had done.

Today, I am relatively confident that I could post the “Volos” photos on Facebook and get at least five people to believe it and pass it around.

Related Posts

Serena and Venus Williams Shine in Matching Silver Versace Outfits

When they walked the red carpet at the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Serena and Venus Williams looked stunning. Venus,41, flaunted her toned legs in a sensual dress with waist-high side splits, while Serena,40, flaunted her curves …

Read more

Coco Gauff’s Memorable Tour After Historic Victory At China Tennis Championships

Coco Gauff is taking advantage of some of the perks of her career to visit some of the world’s most impressive locations. As she participated in two of the largest tournaments in China, she took a break to visit some of the country’s most revered …

Read more

Raising Strong Daughters: Serena Williams Teaches Olympia About Finances and Life Skills

Serena Williams is a multi-talented icon—an unparalleled tennis legend, a savvy businesswoman, and a devoted mother. Since her retirement from professional tennis in 2022, she has proven that her talents extend far beyond the court. Now, she is …

Read more

Muse Coco Gauff: Shining Brightly At WTA Finals With Her Mother’s Proud Eyes

At 20, Coco Gauff has created a wave in the tennis world. She appeared on the big stage at the very young age of 15 when she defeated Venus Williams at the Wimbledon Championships. It was no surprise that she got compared to her idol, Serena Williams. …

Read more

Venus Williams’ Rumored Boyfriend Moves With Short But Sweet Wish

Looking back and embracing the incredible journey! Tennis star, Venus Williams turned professional on October 31, 1994, at the age of just 14. On Thursday, Williams shared a few pictures from her incredible journey on her social media accounts to …

Read more

Serena Williams’ Voice: A Mission to Empower Women and People of Color

“I love sticking up for people and supporting women,” Serena Williams says. Serena Williaмs is powerfυl — on and off of the tennis coυrt. In a new Noveмber cover interview with British Vogυe, Williaмs opens υp aboυt how she υses her voice …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *