The Alton Giant Skeleton Discovery

In 1876, excavations near Alton, Illinois reportedly uncovered skeletal remains of unusual size, adding to the numerous “giant skeleton” discoveries reported across 19th-century America. The Alton discovery, like many others, was documented in contemporary newspapers but left no surviving physical evidence.

The Discovery

According to accounts from the period, workers excavating in the Alton area uncovered human skeletal remains significantly larger than normal. The bones were described as belonging to individuals seven to eight feet or taller.

Contemporary newspaper accounts described the discovery with the matter-of-fact tone typical of such reports in the era.

Context of Giant Discoveries

The Alton find was part of a remarkable pattern of giant skeleton discoveries reported across America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Similar reports came from:

• Ohio mound sites
• West Virginia burial mounds
• California coastal areas
• New York state
• Tennessee cave systems

Newspapers from Maine to California published accounts of oversized skeletal remains being discovered during construction, farming, or archaeological excavation.

The Pattern

Reports typically included:

• Workers discovering bones during digging
• Skeletons measuring seven to twelve feet
• Often found in mounds or burial contexts
• Initially examined by locals or authorities
• Subsequently lost, destroyed, or sent to institutions
• No surviving physical evidence

The Smithsonian Connection

Many accounts mention bones being sent to the Smithsonian Institution or other museums. Conspiracy theorists allege systematic suppression of giant evidence. The Smithsonian denies possessing such remains.

Native American Traditions

Several Native American traditions speak of ancient giant races:

• The Adena and Hopewell mound builders
• Legends of the Si-Te-Cah (Nevada)
• Cherokee traditions of tall beings
• Paiute accounts of red-haired giants

These traditions predated European settlement and may connect to whatever inspired the skeletal discoveries.

Possible Explanations

Misidentification: Some “giant” skeletons may have been misidentified animal bones, poorly measured human remains, or individuals with gigantism.

Journalistic Exaggeration: 19th-century newspapers were not always rigorously factual; tall tales sold papers.

Lost Race Theories: The era was fascinated with lost civilizations; giant discoveries fit popular narrative frameworks.

Genuine Anomalies: Some researchers propose that a larger human subspecies once existed in North America.

The Missing Evidence

The fundamental problem with giant skeleton claims is the complete absence of physical evidence:

• No verified giant skeletons exist in museum collections
• No photographs from the era show such remains convincingly
• Archaeological science has never confirmed the claims
• Chain of custody for alleged specimens is always broken

Legacy

The Alton discovery, like hundreds of similar reports, remains in historical limbo—documented in contemporary accounts but impossible to verify. Whether these reports represent systematic suppression, mass delusion, journalistic fiction, or genuine anomalies, the “giants” of American archaeology continue to fascinate researchers outside the mainstream.

The pattern of discovery and disappearance, repeated across the continent, creates a mystery that can neither be confirmed nor entirely dismissed.