Nexus - 1405 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

produced no evidence of forgery. However, the suit for defamation could not proceed because a criminal investigation was underway. It meant that the defamation hearing set for 28 February would not happen for as long as the criminal investigation continued. Dussaud, it seemed, had won. Meanwhile, a new group of neutral archaeologists, the Committee of Studies, was appointed by scholars who, since the November conference in Amsterdam and specifically since the report's publication in December, were uncomfortable with how the archaeological world was handling Glozel. They excavated from 12 to 14 April 1928 and continued to find more artefacts. Their report spoke out for the authenticity of the site, which they identified as Neolithic. It seemed that Morlet had been vindicated. produced no evidence of forgery. However, the suit for And it seems the Breuil-Vayson de Pradennes—Dussaud axis defamation could not proceed because a criminal investigation was not only powerful in archaeological circles: it could also was underway. It meant that the defamation hearing set for 28 dictate to the wheels of the law. February would not happen for as long as the criminal The court accepted Bayle's findings, and on 4 June 1929 Fradin investigation continued. was formally indicted for fraud. For the next few months, Fradin Dussaud, it seemed, had won. Meanwhile, a new group of was interrogated every week in Moulins. Eventually, the verdict neutral archaeologists, the Committee of Studies, was appointed was overturned by an appeal court in April 1931. by scholars who, since the November conference in Amsterdam For three years, Dussaud had been able to terrorise Fradin for and specifically since the report's publication in December, were his "insolence" in filing a suit against him. Unfortunately, though uncomfortable with how the archaeological world was handling the wheels of the law had largely played to the advantage of the Glozel. They excavated from 12 to 14 April 1928 and continued "axis of archaeology", in the final analysis righteousness had won. to find more artefacts. Their report spoke out for the authenticity The defamation charge against Dussaud came to trial in March of the site, which they identified as Neolithic. It seemed that 1932, and Dussaud was found guilty of defamation, with all costs Morlet had been vindicated. of the trial to be paid by him. Eight years after the first discovery, the leading archaeologists Police distort truth, but Fradin is vindicated continued to claim the Glozel artefacts were fraudulent, though all Any vindication was soon outdone when Gaston-Edmond Bayle, chief of the Criminal Records Office in Paris, analysed the artefacts seized in the raid and in May 1929 identified them as recent forgeries. Originally, Bayle had said that it would take only eight or nine days to prepare a report, but a year passed without anything being set down on paper. This, of course, was excellent news for Dussaud, as it delayed his defamation hearing. To pave the way, on 5 October 1928 information was leaked to the papers, which played their part by faithfully the evidence—including a lengthy legal cause—had shown that was absolutely not the case. But why bother with facts when there are pet theories and reputations to be defended? Morlet ended his excavations in 1938, and after 1942 a new law outlawed private excavations. The Glozel site remained untouched until the Ministry of Culture re-opened excavations in 1983. A full report was never published, but a 13-page summary did appear in 1995. This “official report" infuriated many, for the authors suggested that the site was L a3 Pat Caught in the act! When it was learned that one of the me archaeologists had entered the site and tried to pretend Fradin : - a stating that the report would had interfered with the digs, Dr Morlet confronted the mediaeval, possibly containing conclude that the Glozel archaeologists. At first, they denied the incident happened... S©™e Iron Age objects, but was artefacts are forgeries. In May Untiy this photograph was produced and entered as evidence. likely to have been enriched by 1929, Bayle completed a 500- Yet another lie of the archaeological establishment. forgeries. It therefore reinforced page report, just in time to the earlier position of the postpone once again the Dussaud case, which was scheduled for _—_ leading French archaeologists. But on 16 June 1990, Emile hearing on 5 June. Fradin received the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, suggesting Bayle argued that he could detect fragments of what might have that the French academic circles had accepted him for making a been grass and an apple stem in some of the Glozel clay tablets. legitimate discovery—and that he was not a forger. The Glozel As grass obviously could not have been preserved for thousands excavation site, however, continues to be seen as a giant hoax. of years, it was obviously a recent forgery, he reasoned. The Emile Fradin was honoured that the British Museum requested argument is very unconvincing, for the excavations were some of his artefacts to go on display in 1990 in the "holy of obviously not handled as a forensic crime scene would be treated. holies" of archaeology. What he did not know (because of a Most likely, the vast majority of these artefacts were placed on language barrier) was that the exhibit was highlighting some of grass or elsewhere after they were dug up from the pit—a practice the greatest archaeological hoaxes and forgeries in history... that continues on most of today's archaeological excavations; archaeology, at this level, is not a forensic science. Later, it About the Author: would emerge that some of the objects had also been placed in an —_— Philipp Coppens is the editor-in-chief of Conspiracy Times oven to dry them—which in due course would interfere with (http://www.conspiracy-times.com). He has previously carbon-dating efforts on the artefacts. contributed eight articles to NEXUS, the most recent being Bizarrely, in September 1930, Bayle was assassinated in an —"State-Sponsored Terror in the Western World" (see 14/02). unrelated event; his assassin accused him of having made a Philip is a scheduled speaker for the forthcoming NEXUS fraudulent report that had placed him in jail! After his death, it | Conference on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, on was found that Bayle had lived an extravagant lifestyle that was | 20-22 October. inconsistent with his salary. Philip's website is http://www.philipcoppens.com, and he Most interestingly, Bayle was close to Vayson de Pradennes, can be contacted by email at info@philipcoppens.com. To who was the son-in-law of his former superior at the Criminal read more about the Glozel archaeological controversy, see Records Office. http ://www.philipcoppens.com/glozel. html. About the Author: Philip Coppens is the editor-in-chief of Conspiracy Times (http://www.conspiracy-times.com). He has previously contributed eight articles to NEXUS, the most recent being "State-Sponsored Terror in the Western World" (see 14/02). Philip is a scheduled speaker for the forthcoming NEXUS Conference on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, on 20-22 October. Philip's website is http://www.philipcoppens.com, and he can be contacted by email at info@philipcoppens.com. To read more about the Glozel archaeological controversy, see http :/Avww.philipcoppens.com/glozel. html. 54 * NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007