According to an ancient legend, North America was once inhabited by a race of giants that were much taller and stronger than the average man. These giants, a red-haired tribe of cannibals known as the Si-Te-Cah, often harassed the Paiute tribe with war and captured their victims to eat. With a little geological research, it turns out the giants of Lovelock, Nevada may not have been just a legend, they may have been very real. Of all the legends in the history-rich state of Nevada, this one is sure to blow your mind.
After many years of conflict, the Paiute tribes banded together to destroy the Si-Te-Cah. The impact of the violence on their livelihoods had gone too far. As the battle went on, the last of the red-haired giants were chased into a cave by the Paiutes. They demanded the giants to come out immediately, but they refused.
Ken Lund / Flickr As a form of retaliation, the Paiutes set the cave on fire with flaming arrows - suffocating and burning the Si-Te-Cah alive, which explains why we don’t see enormous redheads roaming the streets of Nevada to this day.
Lovelock Cave is located approximately 20 miles south of Lovelock, Nevada. Also known as Bat Cave, Horseshoe Cave, Sunset Guano Cave and Indian Cave, the cave has since been places on the National Register of Historic Places, but it took some time for its geological importance to be revealed.
rundixie / Flickr
Because of an earthquake, the cave’s entrance eventually collapsed - leaving it only accessible to bats. These bats produced an abundance of guano, a valuable ingredient in gunpowder. This guano discovery led many humans back to Lovelock Cave.
flickr/Ken Lund There’s nothing like the opportunity to make money to draw people back to a previously abandoned area.
In 1911, the Sunset Guano Mining Company was formed specifically to mine the guano. During the mining process, several artifacts were discovered, including bones, baskets and weapons indicating early settlers to the area.
flickr/BLM Nevada In 1924, interestingly more than ten years after they were found, archaeologists were notified of these artifacts. And even though several of them had either been lost or destroyed, more than 10,000 were successfully recovered. Two of the successfully recovered artifacts included a male and female mummified red-haired giant. The male giant measured 8-feet tall, and the female giant measured 6.5-feet tall.
The remains of red-haired giants weren’t only discovered inside Lovelock Cave. In 1931, two giant skeletons were found near Lovelock, Nevada in the Humboldt dry lake bed. One of the skeletons measured 8.5-feet tall, and the other measured nearly 10-feet tall. In 1939, another giant skeleton was discovered at Friedman Ranch, measuring 7 feet, 7 inches tall.
Murray Foubister / Flickr Legends exist in every culture and corner of the earth, but for the giants of Lovelock Nevada it’s hard to ignore the physical evidence uncovered in that expedition. Especially considering humans were smaller historically than they are now, these towering mummies indicate that a species of giants may have been very real.
Several artifacts can be viewed in Winnemucca, Nevada at the Humboldt Museum. Unfortunately, the red-haired giant skulls aren’t on public display. However, if you ask to view them, you’ll likely be able to.
Humboldt Museum 175 Museum Ave Winnemucca, NV 89445
Humboldt Museum Website If you’re still skeptical about the legend of the red haired giants, go see for yourself. You might begin to believe your own eyes.
Ken Lund / Flickr
As a form of retaliation, the Paiutes set the cave on fire with flaming arrows - suffocating and burning the Si-Te-Cah alive, which explains why we don’t see enormous redheads roaming the streets of Nevada to this day.
rundixie / Flickr
flickr/Ken Lund
There’s nothing like the opportunity to make money to draw people back to a previously abandoned area.
flickr/BLM Nevada
In 1924, interestingly more than ten years after they were found, archaeologists were notified of these artifacts. And even though several of them had either been lost or destroyed, more than 10,000 were successfully recovered. Two of the successfully recovered artifacts included a male and female mummified red-haired giant. The male giant measured 8-feet tall, and the female giant measured 6.5-feet tall.
Murray Foubister / Flickr
Legends exist in every culture and corner of the earth, but for the giants of Lovelock Nevada it’s hard to ignore the physical evidence uncovered in that expedition. Especially considering humans were smaller historically than they are now, these towering mummies indicate that a species of giants may have been very real.
Humboldt Museum Website
If you’re still skeptical about the legend of the red haired giants, go see for yourself. You might begin to believe your own eyes.
There have been many different opinions regarding this ancient legend. It causes us to think, at what point does the legend become fact? Sure, the tribal war and cave explosion may have been exaggerated as ancient legends are wont to be, but with real evidence of the red haired giants existing, some of it appears to be factual.
What do you think? Do you believe this ancient legend is true, or a myth? We’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Address: Lovelock Cave Court, Lovelock Cave Ct, Enterprise, NV 89113, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Giants of Lovelock Nevada November 15, 2022 CC Where were red haired giants found in Lovelock, Nevada?
Lovelock Cave Humboldt dry lake bed Friedman Ranch
Where can I learn more about the legend of the red haired giants?
Humboldt Museum University of Nevada Lovelock Cave Tours
The OIYS Visitor Center
Giants of Lovelock Nevada
November 15, 2022
CC
Where were red haired giants found in Lovelock, Nevada?
Lovelock Cave Humboldt dry lake bed Friedman Ranch
Where can I learn more about the legend of the red haired giants?
Humboldt Museum University of Nevada Lovelock Cave Tours
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
- Lovelock Cave
- Humboldt dry lake bed
- Friedman Ranch
Where can I learn more about the legend of the red haired giants?
- Humboldt Museum
- University of Nevada
- Lovelock Cave Tours
