Anthropologist asks for giant skeleton discovery in Ecuador to be reviewed

QUITO – Despite conspiracy theories about ” giant race long-lost” is still circulating in the 21st century, claims of the recent discovery of giant humanoid skeletons in Ecuador need to be re-examined.

As reported by IFL Science, Sunday (24/3/2024), anthropologist Nicholas Landol in his study found that the estimate of the individual height of the “Julcuy giant” excavated in 2019 was too exaggerated.

The skeletal remains were discovered by geologist Theofilos Toulkeridis and archaeologist Florencio Delgado near the village of Julcuy in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. It is estimated that the individual lived between 1200 and 1600 AD.

Only a few bone fragments were found, including the left ulna, left radius, both humerus, both femurs, and a fragmented portion of the lower leg bone.

The documentary series Code of the Wild aired an episode entitled “Lost Race of Giants” featuring interviews with Delgado and Toulkeridis.

The individual was estimated to have been 2.1 meters (7 ft) tall when alive, an unusual figure for a period of 5,000 years ago.

The documentary also interviews Sarasaca Indigenous people about their oral traditions about cannibal giants.

Landol questioned the bone measurement method used, which only involved a measuring tape.

This technique can produce errors due to the taphonomic (decomposition) process that occurs in the corpse.

The documentary shows a graph showing the length of the femur at nearly 61 centimeters (24 inches), much longer than the average male femur.

However, this measurement was never performed and appears to be just an assumption based on an estimate of the individual’s height.

(wbs)