Zinjanthropus Bust
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 17th, 2009
I just discovered that there is a museum worthy Zinjanthropus OH-5 Bust (Australopithecus boisei) made by Skulls Unlimited, WEH-01 : Teaching Quality Recreation, which has shot to the top of my “holiday wish list” for the International Cryptozoology Museum.
While Dr. Grover Krantz headed the Gigantopithecus school of thought regarding the origins of Bigfoot, I have always been in favor of the Paranthropus group of fossil hominids being the best fossil candidates for Sasquatch.
The Paranthropus fossil affinity for Bigfoot was proposed in 1971 by Gordon Strasenburgh, who wrote of his theory in scientific anthropology journals, self-published booklets, and through correspondence with anthropologists, hominologists, and cryptozoologists. Strasenburgh thought Sasquatch would be found to be related to Paranthropus robustus and suggested that the name Paranthropus eldurrelli be used for the Bigfoot of the Pacific Northwest.
Paranthropus, a name coming back into use, is a fossil hominid genus initially assigned by Robert Broom to a robust form of australopithecine found at Kromdraai and Swartkrans in South Africa. One of the most famous Paranthropus species, of course, is boisei, discovered by Mary Leakey in 1959 at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. It is known for its massive jaw muscles and huge back teeth the size of quarters that inspired the nickname “Nutcracker Man” (Zinjanthropus).
Now Skulls Unlimited International has a relatively affordable replica bust for sale for $270 (with FREE shipping on Thursday, December 17, 2009!!).
WEH-01: Zinjanthropus OH-5 Bust
Teaching Quality Recreation
Australopithecus boisei Bust – Beginning with an actual cast of an Australopithecus boisei skull, this superb bust was clayed up, muscle for muscle, using modern primate anatomy as a guide. The end product urges the viewer to stare into the eyes of one of our oldest upright relatives and to, perhaps for the first time, truly recognize our connection with the apes. This specimen was sculpted by Oklahoma artist and Skulls Unlimited production supervisor Eric Humphries.
[Update: This item has been gifted to the museum by PhotoExpert.]
International Cryptozoology Museum
661 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101
207-518-9496
[email protected]
Thank you.
For those involved in the Paranthropus school of thought regarding the origins of Sasquatch, the Zinj bust is what you should find sitting under your tree for the holidays.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
im a gigantos/new species guy myself
Krantz’s Giganto skull is for sale on that site as well.