BROADCASTS.com

The Coso Artifact - a man-made, cylindrical object apparently encased in a geode - was discovered by Wallace Lane, Virginia Maxey and Mike Mikesell while prospecting for gems in Olancha, California on February 13th, 1961.\nThe OOPArt (or \u2018out-of-place artifact\u2019) caused a sensation amongst Creationists, Forteans and conspiracists, who believed it might be up to half a million years old - but has since been identified as a 1920s-era Champion spark plug.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether the \u2018Rock Hounds\u2019 were deliberately defrauding people, or were just open-minded enthusiasts; ask why their find had such resonance with Creationists, when its existence cannot be consistent with the world being merely thousands of years old; and reveal how the \u2018mystery\u2019 was conclusively debunked\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018When Some 1920s Garbage Was Mistaken for an Ancient Artifact\u2019 (Smithsonian Magazine, 2017): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1920s-garbage-or-ancient-artifact-probably-1920s-garbage-180962081/\n\u2022 \u2018Hidden History - Lost Civilizations, Secret Knowledge, and Ancient Mysteries, By Brian Haughton\u2019 (Red Wheel/Weiser, 2007):\xa0\nhttps://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Hidden_History/295EDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=coso+artifact&pg=PT173&printsec=frontcover\n\u2022 \u2018Coso Artifact: Science Triumphs Over Theorists\u2019 (Science For Everyone, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GawHMQpIGrU\n#Discoveries #60s #California #Strange\nLove the show? Join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\xa0\U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices