Giant of Abo Pass

The Giant of Abo Pass was an alleged petrified human head (including neck and shoulders) that was claimed to have been excavated by W. L. Trimble and F. E. Sturges at Abo Pass in the Manzano Mountains of Socorro County, New Mexico during 1903. It was described in a newspaper report of the Albuquerque Morning Journal-Democrat as having "a distinctly Ethiopian cast of co[u]ntenance" with a "peculiar [s]ardonic grin that is apt to get on ones nerves if one looks steadily at it for a few moments" but no measurements were given, only a pronouncement that it was gigantic. No further information has been found regarding the claim at this time.

Press Coverage

• "THINK THEY HAVE FOUND BODY OF PRIMEVAL MAN – Albuquerque Men Discover Wonderful Petrified Human Head While Touring Through Abo Pass.", Albuquerque Morning Journal-Democrat (Albuquerque, NM): 5, 8 Sep. 1903, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/547196896, "The Giant of Abo pass, or at least a portion of that historic personage, is now in Albuquerque. He is not in a museum, nor is he in a coffin, although he is decidly a dead one. Instead, that part of him which is in Albuquerque is suspended by a wire from the wall of the office in W. L. Trimble's Second street livery stable, where yesterday a number of well known ethnologists examined him and pronounced him the real thing. That portion of the giant which has been transported from the original resting place is the head complete, and the neck to the shoulders. W. L. Trimble and F. E. Sturges, the discoverers of the head tell a remarkable story of its discovery and transfer from the pass to Albuquerque. Several weeks ago these gentlemen made an overland trip to Abo pass to see the work on the Santa Fe cut-off. While driving through the pass one day, thus runs the story, Mr. Sturges espied a qeer looking rock sticking out above the ground and called his companion's attention to it. Mr. Trimble immediately pronounced it a human skull and in another instant both men were down on the ground making excavations around the rock. They found it not only a human skull, but also a solid petrefaction of an entire human body, of great size, imbedded in the solid rock. For hours the discoverers toiled for their prize. They borrowed a crowbar and an ax, and cut away the hard flint formation around the head. After working three days and three nights without food or drink they brought the head unbroken from its age long resting place. Mr. Trimble wanted to go on after the rest of the body, but Mr. Sturges protested that it would be cheaper to import a set of air drills and shoot it out. So they marked the spot and came away bringing the head with them. It is a remarkable specimen, whether genuine or not. The head is that of a giant, with perfect features and having a distinctly Ethiopian cast of contenance, the neck is massive and the veins and muscles are perfectly outlined in the rock. Even portions of teeth show where the rock has worn away. Several well known life insurance men inspected the head yesterday. Mr. J. H. O'Rielly believes that in its present condition the giant would be a good risk. Mr. C. W. Medler thinks that it might be dangerous to take it on any but a gold bond policy since it must have contracted lung trouble during its long sojourn in the ground. The face has a peculiar cardonic grin that is apt to get on ones nerves if one looks steadily at it for a few moments, the outlines of the eyes, and nostrils are perfect. In fact this portion of the giant is perfect. Science would perhaps demand the rest."