1982 "Knuckles"
(click image for larger view)
Year |
1982 |
|---|---|
Month |
June |
Date |
16 |
State |
WA |
County |
Walla Walla |
Location |
Elk Wallow |
Found by |
|
Cast by |
Paul Freeman |
Length |
10 inches |
Length |
5 inches |
Width |
6 inches |
Width |
4 inches |
|
One of the first casts in my collection, the "Knuckles" print remains one of my favorites. Not only is it novel in that it's a handprint of a bigfoot, but it shows some very interesting anatomical features.
The thumb seems excessively thick. This is likely due to a combination of factors. First of all, the fat pad on the palmer surface of the thumb seems to be very thick, making the thumb impression 1.7 inches thick. It is also possible that the thumb shifted positions as it impressed into the ground, thus making it seem thicker than it really was.
On the thumb is a clear impression of a thumbnail. The positioning of this thumbnail gives some insight into the thumb of a sasquatch. It seems that the thumb is rotated outwards towards the other fingers. This makes the thumb close inwards towards the palm, like the other digits. This has been noted in eyewitness accounts. The thumbs are described as curling around objects in the same direction as the other fingers.
Note the thumbnail in the lower left.
It is the opposability of the human thumb that gives us the ability to grip small objects and do an amazing array of other things with our hands. Certainly the sasquatch can do many amazing things with their hands as well, but probably not the same things we can.
Hand comparisons from Dr. Fahrenbach's excellent article.
Click for a larger view.
The hand is inferred to be squat and stout. The metacarpals (bones found in the palm) are inhumanly short, as are the segments of the fingers. Other hand prints correspond very nicely to this unique impression.
This cast is widely circulated. Ken and Linda Steigers, who own most of the Freeman collection, frequently give first generation copies as gifts. I bought my copy from Dr. Grover Krantz in the mid 1990's, probably making it a first generation cast as well.
This impression came from a line of footprints from an individual nicknamed, "Dermals". The footprints from this individual display excellent dermatoglyphics.
My friends at the TBRC have posted an excellent article on handprints. It is definitely worth a read.
Click for larger view of Elk Wallow area
near the Mill Creek Watershed
Bibliography
Krantz, Grover S. Bigfoot Sasquatch Evidence Blaine, WA. Hancock House Publishers, 1999.
Meldrum, Jeff. Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science New York, NY. Tom Doherty Associates, 2006.
Click below to buy these references from Amazon.com:
Orchard, Vance Bigfoot of the Blues Walla Walla, WA. Orchard, 1993
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Bigfoot of the Blues
Orchard, Vance The Walla Walla Bigfoot Prescott, WA Ox-Yoke Press, 2001
Click here to buy
The Walla Walla Bigfoot