LAWRENCE — A Kansas University researcher has been studying the ancient stone balls of Costa Rica. A mockup of one of the stone balls rolled into popular culture at the beginning of the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” KU’s John Hoopes is doing a report that could grant the stone balls of Costa Rica World Heritage Status from the United Nations. Hoopes said the stones – many of which are a thousand years old — were virtually ignored by scientists until the 1930s. He said about 300 are known to exist. The balls are of widely varying sizes, including some up to eight feet in diameter and weighing 16 tons. He said little is known about who made them or why.
Tuesday, March 23, 10:45 a.m.
