You are reading this file from www.UFONet.it


From: sjohns19@facstaff.wisc.edu (Steven Johnson)
Subject: 500,000 year old object discovered in geode, request info?
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 21:28:26
Organization: Division of Information Technology
Summary: Ancient Alien Artifacts
Keywords: Ancient Alien Artifacts

I recently watched one of the "In Search of" programs on cable TV
titled "UFO Australia."  There was the brief segment at the end
of this show that presented a very strange artificial object that
apparently had been found by some "rock hounds" who were in a
desert in the western United States looking for geodes.  The
geode, when cut open, revealed strange object within.  X-Rays
showed an artificial-like object that looked like an electronic
device similar to a capacitor.  The program went on to say that a
geologist "unofficially" dated the age of the geode which had the
embedded artificial object to be approximately 500,000 years old.
The "In Search of" program went on to say that the strange object
had been extensively written up in several papers - but then
apparently forgotten.  Just another strange unexplained anomaly
it would seem.

Does anyone have any further information and/or leads on this
particular object.  Where might one locate copies of the actual
research papers that were performed on this object.  Does this
object still officially exist in someone's collection, or has it
"mysteriously" vanished like the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow?

Any information would be greatly appreciated?  Email to me if you
wish.  ...and may all your networking wishes come true!

Steve
---------------------------------------------------
Respectfully, Steven Vincent Johnson
INTERNET (work): steven.johnson@ccmail.adp.wisc.edu
INTERNET (home): sjohns19@facstaff.wisc.edu

From: brian@lvld.hp.com (Brian Wood)
Newsgroups: alt.paranet.ufo
Subject: Re: 500,000 year old object discovered in geode, request info?
Date: 28 Jul 1994 20:05:23 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co.

In article <sjohns19.73.001579A3@facstaff.wisc.edu>, sjohns19@facstaff.wisc.edu (Steven Johnson) says:
>
>
>Does anyone have any further information and/or leads on this
>particular object.  Where might one locate copies of the actual
>research papers that were performed on this object.  Does this
>object still officially exist in someone's collection, or has it
>"mysteriously" vanished like the pot of gold at the end of the
>rainbow?
>

Here is the info I promised:

The object is known as the Coso artifact.  It was reported in
Brad Steiger's book _Mysteries of Space and Time_, and also in _Secrets
of the Lost Races_, by Rene Noorbergen (p. 43).  The latter book
mentioned that the object was reported on in detail by the Charles
Ford Society.  Turns out that was a misprint (which took a bit of
Internet help to discover!) and the author meant the Charles Fort
Society, now known as the International Fortean Organization.
I found their address in a large reference book on organizations
and called them.  I found out that the object was reported on in
their INFO Journal, Vol. 1, issue 4, (Spring, 1969).  Copies can
be ordered from INFO, Box 367, Arlington, VA 22210 for a small amount
of money ($6, I think).  They do not have any issues left in original
condition - just xerox copies, which do not reproduce the photos of
the X-rays very well.

The report says that the names of the people who found the artifact
were Mike Mikesell, Wallace lane and Virginia Maxey, and that they
found the item February 13, 1961 on a mountain peak 4300 feet high,
about 340 feet above the dry Owens Lake six miles northeast of Olancha,
CA.  Geologists think that about 1000 years ago, Owens Lake was as
high as the top of that peak.

The INFO article states that a member of INFO visited Maxey and Lane.
Maxey stated that the object isn't magnetic "now" (article printed
in 1969, remember), but she apparently said it WAS magnetic in a
Feb, 1961 article in Desert Magazine.

The INFO article concludes with the statement that no professional
scientist has ever investigated the artifact, and that the owners
are asking an "exorbitant payment" before they'll let anyone examine
it.  And so it goes.

If we assume that it is an 'alien' artifact and not just a fossil
encrusted spark plug, what might it be?  My guess would be some sort
of antenna.  The construction reminds me of modern attempts at
superconductors.  Wonder if anyone's tried replicating the thing
using ceramic superconductors and then cooling the thing off with
liquid nitrogen to see what happens?
 
---
Brian Wood W0DZ
Co-Producer, ParaNet UFO Continuum
International Director, MICAP
[Multinational Investigations Cooperative on Aerial Phenomena]
e-mail: brian.wood@paranet.org, brian@lvld.hp.com, paranet@aol.com
CompuServe: 74003,754 (74003.754@compuserve.com)
ParaNet BBS: (303) 429-2713
Amateur BBS: W0DZ@N0KTC