Cardiff Giant
Field Report
The Cardiff Giant is one of America’s most famous hoaxes, a ten-foot-tall “petrified man” unearthed on a New York farm in 1869. Created by George Hull, who hired sculptors to carve the figure out of gypsum and then secretly buried it, the giant was meant to poke fun at literal interpretations of biblical giants. When workers “discovered” it, the find drew huge crowds and serious debate, with some ministers declaring it proof of scripture. Despite being exposed as a fraud within months, the Cardiff Giant captivated the public imagination and became a traveling attraction, even after the ruse was widely known. Today it stands in a museum, a testament to both human gullibility and our deep-rooted fascination with ancient mysteries. The story persists as a classic lesson in skepticism, wrapped in the enduring appeal of giant legends.
Classification
Type:Other (Hoax Artifact)
Location:United States, New York, Cardiff
Traits:Human-shaped, petrified, oversized, weathered, silent
Threat Assessment
Danger Level: 1
First Reported: 1869
Sightings: 1
Reveal Full Dossier
Behavioral Patterns
It lies inert and unblinking where placed, never stirring. Observers note it feels almost watchful, though completely immobile.
Folklore & Origins
19th-century hoaxers claimed this petrified giant was proof of biblical titans.
Media Documentation
Widely covered by 19th-century American newspapers as one of history’s most famous hoaxes. Continues to appear in documentaries and museum features about frauds and curiosities. Modern press treats it purely as a historical artifact, devoid of cryptid speculation.
Hoax Analysis
Cardiff Giant is a famous confirmed hoax from 1869, created as a carved gypsum figure purported to be a petrified giant. It is one of the most well-known deliberate fabrications in cryptid history.