The tale of Kap Dwa, translating to “two heads,” emerges from British records in the early 20th century and various voyage accounts spanning the 17th to 19th centuries. According to legend, Kap Dwa was a colossal Patagonian giant sporting two heads, towering at 12 feet or 3.66 meters, and purportedly residing in the jungles of Argentina, South America.

The enigmatic tale of Kap Dwa unfolds in 1673 when Spanish sailors allegedly captured a colossal being standing over 12 feet tall, boasting two heads. Bound to their ship’s mainmast, the giant, being formidable, managed to break free during a confrontation, ultimately meeting a fatal fate as they thrust a spear through his heart. Before succumbing to death, Kap Dwa was said to have claimed the lives of four Spanish soldiers.

The subsequent chapters of Kap Dwa’s story are shrouded in mystery. His naturally mummified remains purportedly found their way to various exhibitions and sideshows. By 1900, Kap Dwa’s mummy became part of the Edwardian Horror Circuit, changing hands between showmen until it landed at Weston’s Birnbeck Pier in 1914.

For the next 45 years, Kap Dwa was showcased in North Somerset, England, until his acquisition by “Lord” Thomas Howard in 1959. Through a series of transitions, he eventually found an unexpected home in Baltimore, MD. Today, he rests within the peculiar collection of curiosities at Bob’s Side Show at The Antique Man Ltd, owned by Robert Gerber and his wife. While historians suggest the mummified remains of Kap Dwa may be a contrived hoax, the topic remains a contentious subject of debate.

The legends of the Patagones, or Patagonian giants, echo through early European accounts, depicting a race of colossal humans believed to inhabit Patagonia. These giants were rumored to surpass double the height of an average person, with some narratives stretching their stature to towering dimensions of 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m) or even more. The tales of these enigmatic beings would cast a profound influence on European perceptions of the region for nearly 250 years.

The initial reports of the Patagonian giants emerged during the expedition led by Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan and his crew in the early 1520s. While navigating the South American coastline on their way to the Maluku Islands during the world-circling voyage, Magellan’s crew claimed to have witnessed these colossal inhabitants. Antonio Pigafetta, a survivor of the expedition and chronicler of Magellan’s journey, recounted their encounters with natives whose height was twice that of an ordinary person:

During the early encounters with the Patagonian giants, one vivid description comes from Antonio Pigafetta, chronicling the expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan. He recounts an incident where the crew spotted a naked giant on the port shore, engaging in a peculiar dance, song, and dust-throwing ritual. In an attempt to establish peace, the captain-general dispatched a crew member to mimic the giant’s actions. Subsequently, the giant was led to the captain-general, who awaited on an islet. The giant, towering so high that the crew only reached his waist, expressed astonishment and gestured upward, perceiving the visitors as beings from the sky.

In another account, Sebalt de Weert, a Dutch captain involved in exploring South American coasts and the Falkland Islands in 1600, and his crew reported encountering a “race of giants.” While rowing to an island in the Magellan Strait, the Dutch claimed to have seen seven peculiar boats approaching, each filled with naked giants displaying aggressive behavior. Described as having long hair and reddish-brown skin, these giants left a lasting impression on the Dutch crew.

As for Kap Dwa, the giant with two heads, opinions remain divided. Some insist on its authenticity, pointing to the absence of obvious taxidermy evidence. In support of its credibility, it is reported that Johns Hopkins University students conducted an MRI on Kap Dwa’s body, adding another layer to the ongoing debate between taxidermy skeptics and those who believe in the authenticity of this unusual specimen.

In the realm of Kap Dwa’s authenticity, conflicting origin stories and its role as a sideshow attraction have added layers of skepticism. An account from Frank Adey, recalling a sighting in Blackpool around 1960, emphasized the absence of apparent sutures or joins on the body, especially considering its largely unclothed state. Furthermore, in the 1930s, two doctors and a radiologist reportedly examined Kap Dwa in Weston and found no discernible indications of it being a fabrication.

Despite these claims supporting the giant’s genuineness, Kap Dwa’s credibility faces challenges due to its sideshow status and the lack of consensus on its origin. The article in Fortean Times highlights the conflicting narratives surrounding this mysterious specimen. The absence of a clear and universally accepted provenance raises questions about its legitimacy, prompting considerations about whether Kap Dwa should be housed in a reputable museum and subjected to rigorous analysis by contemporary scientists.

Interestingly, the lingering mystery surrounding Kap Dwa is underscored by the absence of DNA analysis. The article posits that until such tests are conducted, the giant’s mummy will continue to reside in the enigmatic realms of speculation and uncertainty.