209: Skeleton of Guadalopue

In 1812 a well documented woman’s skeleton was discovered buried in a massive sandstone block over a mile in length on the island of Guadeloupe. Known as Guadeloupe Woman she was 5ft 2 inches tall with head and feet missing. The rock was dated at 28 million years old, 25 million years before we were supposed to be here. They say she was quietly moved to the basement of the British Museum after the publication of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

The fossilised human skeleton from Guadeloupe has received considerable publicity as a result of Cooper’s article in 1982.

A number of skeletons were discovered in 1805 near Moule, Guadeloupe, and the governor, General Ernouf, decided to remove one of them. They were deemed interesting as no one had previously found and studied fossilised human bones. Before the skeleton could be sent to Paris, the island was taken by the English, who were then at war with France. Admiral Cochrane took charge of the skeleton and eventually it found its way to the British Museum. It was described by Konig in a paper published in 1814. At the time, some Christians thought the skeleton was evidence for the deluge, but the limited information that was available meant that the argument was tentative. They finally concluded that the limestone was composed of a calcareous sand which had become cemented to form the hard rock. The sand particles were the remains of marine creatures, and within the rock more complete examples were found of sea shells (comparable to Helix acuta and Turbo pica) and of land shells (Bulimus guadalupensis). Cuvier also described the place where the skeletons were found: the rock formed a bank which was mostly covered by water at high tide. The bank was enlarged daily by the addition of sand particles and was especially well compacted where water evaporation was high. He stated that this type of rock was common in the Antilles Archipelago and was know by the natives as “God’s masonry” (Maconne-bon-dieu).

They concluded the skeleton of Guadeloupe Woman is of relatively recent date. This is adequately shown by the context of her findspot they say. (I'm not saying shes millions of years old but they can't, or won't, provide a date by other means... why?

All we know is that the skeleton was pulled from a slab. But no one seems to ask where? what type of slab? what section of coast was the slab in? what does the coast look like? Well we have..

The other thing that is mentioned, is that this skeleton, according to a scientist who can't pinpoint the area of discovery, is that is was buried near local graves... Mmm well Taino graves on this island are all trussed burials like this...

But, you know, what do we know? A skeleton lying down, in an old section of weathered rock, which they can't date, can't say how it cemented, and can't seem to date the bones. This is not a giant at 5'2" but the purpose of this post is simply to ask questions of the science... except no one wants to answer those questions...