GLOZEL FOSSIL FRAUDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 661, 13 May 1929, Page 9

GLOZEL FOSSIL FRAUDS

INSCRIPTIONS CONDEMNED BY EXPERTS ONLY TEN YEARS OLD (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) PARIS, Saturday. For many months distinguished scientists in France have been quarrelling about the discoveries on the land of a farmer named Fradin at Glozel, near Vichy, in France. These, if genuine, went to prove that prehistoric man had a method of writing and a culture hitherto undreamed of. An official report has now been issued on the Glozel discoveries. This follows a year’s investigation of the inscriptions on the fossils, which have divided the world of archaeology into two camps. The report declares the inscriptions to be frauds. The contents of the report have not been disclosed to the Press, but it is stated that it concludes that the tablets found were manufactured in the past 10 years. A second report will be drawn up dealing with the pottery and the engraved pebbles exhibited by the Fradin family. Full advantage was taken by the Fradin family of the extraordinary controversy. They continued excavation work every day last summer, and their farm became a centre of interest to tourists. On public holidays as many as 4,000 visitors made the trip from Vichy to the farm, which took 25 minutes in a motor-car. They were admitted by ticket to a dark room where the “treasures” dug up were exhibited. The revenue thus obtained was added to by the sale ; among the visitors of postcards and autographs. Later the family established a cafe at the farm.