The Meister Print

The Meister Print (also known as the Meister Footprint) refers to two trilobites in slate that appeared to be crushed in a human shoe print. The print was cited by creationists and other pseudoscience advocates as an out-of-place artifact, but was debunked by palaeontologists as the result of a natural geologic process known as spall formation.

May be an image of text that says '© Ceausu ©CeausuCristian Cristian'

In 1968, William Meister was searching for trilobite fossils in 500-million-year-old strata known as the Cambrian Wheeler Formation near Antelope Springs, Utah. He discovered what looked like a human shoe print with a trilobite under its heel after breaking open a slab. The supposed footprint was used by Melvin A. Cook as evidence against evolution in an article he wrote in 1970. Cook was not a paleontologist and his conclusion was criticized by experts. Upon investigation the print showed none of the criteria by which genuine prints can be recognized, and the shape could best be explained by natural geological processes.

According to Brian Regal “several studies showed the print was, in reality, an example of a common geologic occurrence known as spalling, in which slabs of rock break away from each other in distinctive patterns. This particular case of spalling had created a simulacrum vaguely suggestive of a shoe print.”

 

Related Posts

The House of the Dancing Faun: An Archaeological Window into Roman Grandeur (2nd Century BCE)

Discovered in 1830 during the systematic excavations of Pompeii, Italy, the House of the Dancing Faun (Casa del Fauno) stands as one of the most remarkable and…

Unveiling Pompeii’s Hidden Treasure: A Spectacular Roman Chariot Discovery

A Remarkable Find in the Ashes of Time In a stunning archaeological breakthrough, a nearly intact ancient Roman chariot has been unearthed near Pompeii, Italy. This extraordinary…

The Genius Behind the Giza Pyramids: A Testament to Ancient Egyptian Engineering

Ancient Egyptians weren’t just skilled architects – they were masterful geological engineers who understood the critical importance of location in constructing their most iconic monuments. The story…

Mystery and History: 700-Year-Old Sword Found in Suspected Templar Cave

A Remarkable Discovery in an Ancient Setting Deep within a private estate’s woodland, beneath the sprawling roots of an age-old tree, archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery….

The Stones of Ollantaytambo: A Conversation with Eternity

In the shadow of the Andean peaks, within the fortress of Ollantaytambo, the Incas composed a silent epic in stone. This is not mere architecture; it is…

The Forgotten Stone Faces of the Andes — Guardians of an Ancient Civilization

Nestled deep within the misty highlands of the Andes Mountains, a colossal stone monument known as the Faces of the Ancients was uncovered in 1978 by a…