Cardiff Giant

The Cardiff Giant remains one of the most infamous archaeological hoaxes in United States history. Purporting to be a "petrified man," the massive stone figure measured 10 feet tall and weighed an astonishing 3,000 pounds.

The giant was unearthed on October 16, 1869, by laborers who were digging a well behind the barn of William C. "Stub" Newell in Cardiff, New York. Newell quickly capitalized on the extraordinary discovery, erecting a tent over the figure and transforming his property into a highly lucrative tourist attraction.

The widespread sensation surrounding the giant eventually caught the attention of legendary showman P.T. Barnum, who created his own unauthorized replica to cash in on the craze. Today, both the original Cardiff Giant and Barnum's counterfeit copy are still on public display, standing as monuments to a spectacular historical prank.