In a new study, recently published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, anthropologist Nicholas Landol investigates the supposed discovery of a giant skeleton near the village of Julcuy, in the Ecuadorian province of Manabí.
Although the discovery has indeed unearthed ancient remains, Landol's investigation reveals that the claims that it is a colossal humanoid are greatly exaggerated.
The skeleton, nicknamed the "Julcuy giant", was discovered in 2019 by geologist Theofilos Toulkeridis and archaeologist Florencio Delgado.
Despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding the discovery, Landol's study suggests that estimates of the individual's height were inflated.
Although the remains recovered provide valuable information about Ecuador's Manteño-Huancavilca culture, including parts of the ulna, radius, humerus, femur and leg bones, the actual height of the individual remains the subject of controversy.
Meanwhile, an episode of the Apple TV documentary "Lost Race of Giants" fueled speculation, claiming that the individual would have been 2.1 meters tall. However, writes IFLScience, Landol's research reveals flaws in the methodology used.
Tom Hale
Landol highlights the rudimentary technique used to measure the bones, which was based solely on a tape measure. This approach, especially given the degree of disarticulation that the remains have undergone over time, can produce inaccurate results.
What's more, the graph shown on the documentary screen, which suggested an unusually long femur, was based on assumptions rather than actual measurements. As a large part of the remains were lost during the adverse weather conditions in 2023, an exhaustive scientific analysis of the bones became unfeasible.
