November 6 to December 28 The Fakes of Totana, an exhibition in Jumilla

The fake archaeological relics created by two enterpirising fraudsters in Totana are now viewed as works of art

Unfortunately (in the eyes of most people), the history of fake archaeological relics dates back almost as far as the history of archaeology itself, but despite the fraudulent nature of their business some of the fakers are regarded as true masters of their craft.

This is the case of “El Corro” and “El Rosao”, two individuals from Totana in the south-west of the Region of Murcia who flooded museums throughout Europe with their brilliantly detailed falsifications. The Archaeology section of the Museo Municipal Jerónimo Molina actually owns one of the largest collections of their work, perhaps the largest, and is holding this exhibition of items until December 28^th during normal museum opening times (Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00, Sundays and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00, closed on 25^th December).

El Corro and El Rosao were part of the team excavating the 4,500-year-old site of La Bastida near Totana, working for nothing more than a bite to eat and a glass of wine every day, and in fact they were barely literate. However, they were excellent and clever craftsmen and soon began to copy the artifacts which were being incovered at La Bastida.

After completing their own clay pots they daubed them with horse excrement and left them for at least a week on the beaches of Águilas, giving them an aged appearance. Soon, their work attracted the attention of Belgian brothers Henri and Louis Siret and Pierre París, the director of the Louvre, who were fooled and soon their fake artifacts were on display in the largest museum in Europe!

Their fraudulent career ended when they were tripped up by their own ignorance and ambition: impressed by their findings, the parish priest of Totana presented them with a book containing images of ancient Aztec pottery from Mexico. They viewed this as a challenge and began to copy these items too, claiming they had found them in La Bastida, and their deception was brought to light.

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