The claim: Giant human skeletons were ‘found by the thousands’...

  1. 22,860 Posts.
    The claim: Giant human skeletons were ‘found by the thousands’ and destroyed by the Smithsonian

    An old hoax has resurfaced in an Instagram meme claiming that giant skeletons were found but were destroyed because “having to explain the existence of these skeletons, contradicted the evolution of mankind and creation.”
    The July 25 post by the user @conspiracytheories, which has gained over 54,700 likes, reads, “Giant skeletons were found by the thousands, but most were destroyed or thrown in the ocean by the Smithsonian and Vatican.”
    The account has not responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
    The claim has made its way across the internet in different variations over the years. A similar post appeared in 2015 claiming that the Supreme Court ruled that documentation of the giants was to be declassified, Jacksonville.org reported, finding the claim to be false.
    How did the hoax start?

    Despite many reports and photos debunking the myth that has resurfaced throughout the years, the claim continues to be shared widely. The National Geographic Society has been battling the hoax since 2004.
    “The hoax began with a doctored photo and later found a receptive online audience —thanks perhaps to the image’s unintended religious connotations,” National Geographic wrote in 2007, adding it “has not discovered ancient giant humans.”
    Users often cite an article from India’s Hindu Voice to back up the claim that giant skeletons were found in India. However, National Geographic wrote that the Hindu Voice editor published a retraction after readers alerted the publication that the story was a hoax.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ng-giant-human-skeletons-old-hoax/5534909002/
 
arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch. arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch.