Johann Beringer

Johann Bartholomeus Adam Beringer (1670—11 April 1738) was a German physician and professor of medicine at the University of Würzburg who became the victim of a hoax and ended up describing fake fossils, Beringer's Lying Stones, and considered their origins in a book entitled Lithographiae imaginibus Wirceburgensis ducentis published in 1726.

He discovered the hoax shortly after and tried to recall all copies of the book and took the hoaxers to court but was not able to regain his reputation.

When he got three young boys to help in digging in the area, a few of his colleagues created and planted hoax fossils.

He was also keen on impressing Prince Bishop Christoph Franz von Hutten, the head of state of Franconia.

An elaborate frontispiece to his book included a monument with the emblem of the Prince Bishop of Würzburg.