Chapter 561: A World- Shaking Discovery! A Theft That Rocked the Globe!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Oracle bones? Jade relics?”
A collection of oracle bones greeted him as he lifted the box’s lid.
Luo Feng’s expression remained calm.
In China, the presence of oracle bones was nothing unusual.
[ Fossil, Paleolithic Era! ]
[ Value: ?? ]
The value assigned to this artifact were a pair of question marks?
Noticing this, Luo Feng’s interest piqued. It was a familiar scenario — when the system could not ascribe a value, it indicated a priceless treasure.
Indeed, everything that exists has intrinsic value. It merely suggested the system’s inability to ascertain its worth, not an absence of value.
Suppose Luo Feng sold it for one yuan. Its worth would be one yuan.
If he sold it for 100 billion, and someone bought it, then its worth would be a hundred billion.
“Could this be a skull?”
Examining the fossil closely, Luo Feng had a hunch.
It didn’t bear a resemblance to human fossils.
It was more akin to an ape’s.
“Hold on, it’s a human skull!”
“Are you kidding? This skull doesn’t resemble a human’s. It looks like a monkey’s!”
“Aren’t humans descendants of monkeys?”
“It must be an ape fossil. I’ve seen something similar in my school’s biology lab!”
“Considering it’s a collector’s item, it’s undoubtedly unique!”
Eventually,
Luo Feng unraveled the mystery.
Indeed,
It was the fossilized skull of Peking Man.
Indeed, it was the very same remarkable discovery that shocked the world when it was first discovered, and had shocked the world again when it went through a baffling disappearance.
Peking Man (Latin scientific name: Homo erectus pekinensis) resided in ancient Beijing’s Zhoukoudian area. As a specimen of Homo erectus, they could manipulate fire and wield stone tools, epitomizing the primitive human lifestyle.
In 1929, Chinese archaeologists discovered a complete skull fossil in a cave on Dragon Bone Hill in Zhoukoudian, christened the world-renowned Peking Man.
They existed approximately 700,000 to 200,000 years ago, retaining some simian features. Their hands and feet evolved for diverse tasks, capable of crafting tools and manipulating fire. Amid dense forests, wild grasslands, and predatory beasts, Peking Men used rudimentary stone tools and wooden clubs to battle the wilderness.
Surviving in such harsh conditions necessitated collective strength. Consequently, they often resided in groups, sharing the fruits of their labor and leading communal lives, marking the genesis of primitive societies.
The discovery was remarkable due to the scarcity of erect men fossils from this epoch globally.
For instance, there were no cultural artifacts or records from the Tang Dynasty following the Han Dynasty, making this period unfamiliar to many. The unearthing of an ancient tomb, unveiled many aspects of the Tang
Dynasty.
Wasn’t this a profound discovery?
Therefore, the claim that it shocked the world was hardly an exaggeration.
However, due to the prevalent domestic strife at the time, conflicts were rampant.
The fossil was destined for a museum in the United States, a trusted ally back then.
In other words, it was set to be stored there.
But during transportation, it was seized by the Northeastern forces of the Cherry Blossom Country, and subsequently stolen.
They later denied their involvement.
The prevailing belief then was that if the Americans hadn’t stolen it, the Japanese certainly did.
However, now that such a situation had surfaced, it appeared the latter theory held water.
After all, the artifact had resurfaced here.
“Folks, I’ve hit the jackpot! Do you have any idea what I hold in my hands?” An exhilarated Luo Feng held up the object, brimming with excitement.
“Uh, what’s that?”
“Is it the skull of Sun Wukong?”
“Laughing so hard, I might die! Sun Wukong is made of stone and has no bones. Why on earth would he have a skull?”
“Aren’t fossils essentially stones?”
“Perhaps it’s the skull of an emperor?”
“I’ve told you, this thing doesn’t resemble a human. It just bears a slight resemblance!”
“Could it be an ancient human?”
“Ancient human? Aren’t ancient and modern humans the same?”
“An ancient human!”
With a chuckle, Luo Feng announced, “You’re correct. Indeed, this is an ancient human, the renowned skull of the Peking Man!”
At his revelation, the flurry of comments noticeably slowed.
Then it resumed, akin to an avalanche.
Everyone was flabbergasted.
After all, who hadn’t seen an image of this artifact in their middle school biology textbooks? It was impossible to study human evolution without addressing human origins.
Biology was a mandatory subject. “Good heavens, the mysteriously missing skull!”
“This is a remarkable find!”
“It actually surfaced here!”
“I remember my grandfather saying, its discovery and theft both shocked the world!”
“I bet it was the Americans who did it!”
“Are you serious? The artifact shows up here, and you still blame the
Americans!”
“Saying it was ‘done’ seems quite unseemly!”
“Is it authentic? Don’t fool us with some monkey’s skull!”
Luo Feng asserted, “This is certainly authentic.. But what intrigues me more is how the Cherry Blossom Country’s officials will explain this!”
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