Perpetrator of scientific hoaxes. Crediting with the development of a number of archaeological hoaxes, Edward Simpson was born in Yorkshire in the north of England. As a teenager, he worked for several scholars who passed to him a love for the past and some knowledge of paleontology. Later, he became an avid fossil collector and made his living selling specimens to dealers, collectors, and colleges. His career changed in 1843 when one of his clients asked him to manufacture a copy of an arrowhead. Simpson’s copy proved to be indistinguishable from the original. He soon discovered that most ancient artifacts could be faked relatively easily. Although Simpson’s counterfeits would have been easily spotted today, in the 19th century they were confused with genuine artifacts. They were shipped across the country, and some, especially his arrowheads, were purchased by the British Museum. He became well known in paleontological circles under several nicknames, including Fossil Willie.
The primary problem in Simpson’s business appears to have been its growth. He was producing material faster than the small number of excavations could have produced. Investigations were launched in the early 1860s. Then, in 1861, Simpson confided what he had been doing to a dealer in London. The dealer forced Simpson before a group of geologists in January 1862. Simpson demonstrated his skill by producing one of his arrowheads for the group.