Final answer:
The crystal skulls first appeared in the collection of Eugene Boban, and they may have been used in mourning practices or religious ceremonies. Their authenticity and true purpose remain subjects of debate, with modern techniques like CT scanning revealing more about their origins. Option C
Step-by-step explanation:
The first recorded appearance of the crystal skulls is accounted to have been in the collection of Eugene Boban, who was an antiquities dealer primarily known for selling pre-Hispanic artifacts. The crystal skulls are human skull hardstone carvings made of clear or milky white quartz, also known as "rock crystal."
They are attributed to various pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, including the Aztec and Maya civilizations, although their authenticity has been challenged since their initial surfacing.
It is believed that these skulls were intended for use in religious practices or for mourning lost loved ones, an interpretation drawn from similar practices observed in other ancient societies. In the case of the Jericho Skull, elaborate facial reconstructions using plaster were made over the skulls, possibly to venerate the person they once belonged to, as seen in artifacts found in Neolithic Jericho and other sites.
Nonetheless, the meaning behind the skulls and whether they really come from the pre-Columbian period remains a topic of debate within archaeology. CT scanning and facial reconstruction have been used to uncover more about the individuals behind the skulls, like the discovery made about the Jericho Skull. Option C