Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-29
ROCK OF THE SUN.
A Kentucky Romance Of the Vi
oinity Of Hopkinsville by
Joe Mulhattan.

uOe " uIudIldA'
Six miles east Of llopkinevlllc, Ky,
lies the Rock of the Sun" 1t is cover
ed with queer hieroglyphics and rude
figures representing men, animal,
and events Of 4 prehistoric period.
1t is chiseled round and smooth, is 40
feet 3 inches in diameter by If feet
% inches in thickness.
1t is evidently grand monument
placed there by the AZtccs to COM
memorate some great event. How
such a huge body was ever placed
there will forever remain mystery,
as it is upon a level plain and at
least six miles from any rocks Of
similar origin.
For generations past this 'I;ocli
of the San" Las been Il tayoritc place
to drive TO from this city, and thous-
andS Of people have visited ii annu-
ally. Brief descriptions Oft have
appeared from time TO time in the
press Of this country. Some two
weeks ago the writer Of this article
and number of others interested in
scientific research decided TO make
some excavations in the vicinity IF
this prehistoric monument. Work
was commenced March 6, and after
considerable labor with men, teams,
and road scrapcrS, our efforts were
rewarded with one Of the greatest
discoveries ever made on the Amcri-
can continent. AT a depth Of six
feet we discovered prehistoric city,
an exact fac similc Of many discover
cI nearly IL century ago Ill New Mex
leo near Samtc Fc. We have already
removed the light, loamy soil and
sand from Il portion Of one of the
streets, and have entered the houses
Of the silent prehistoric city. Tn
unfortunate inhabitants were un-
doubleday surprised by food, as
the streets and houses are filled with
driitwOod, leaves. and sand. Many
of the bodies found are still in !.
state Of perfect preservation, having
the appearance Of Egyptian mum
mics. Vessels of bronze and numcr-
Gus gold ornaments are found H.
many of the houses. Yesterday we
uncarthcd one of their temples, in
which was an altar and stone seats
also ornaments Of gold, representing
the sun, which gives conclusive
evidence that they were Il race Of
sun worshipers. The streets are
macadamizcd with river bouldcls,
and the houses are built Of stone and
adobe, the architecture correspond
ing in every particular TO that Of the
MeXicans of the present day.
This monument Of the sun was un
doubtcdly placed there by the survi-
vors of this i'll futcd city, many of
whom undoubtedly escaped to the
caves in the immediate vicinity.
The why or wherefore OF The great
flood that destroyed this city will, Il
course, forever remain matter OF
conjecture. The scene of our labOrs
is i'll an out of the way portion of tho
country, the road to which from Hop.
kinsville is merely a trail through
the cancbrakcs and swampS, and the
place is totally inaccessible during
the winter freshcts. Pond Rivers
Green River, and Little River all
contribute their volume Of overflow
to fill the swamp. We propose tC
remove all we possibly can TO Hop.
kinsvillc before the rrcshcts set in
and also devise some mems to pre-.
vent the overflow of our excavations
Professor John p. Barrett, of Hartford
Ky, Hon. Hunter Wood, of the Hop
kinsvile New Era; Chas. NJ. Meach
am, of the Kentuckian; Colonel E
Polk Johnson, of the COuricr-Jour'
nal, and b. f. Ridgely, esq, of the
Louisville Commercial, arc now here
and complete reports of this interest
ing discovery will appear in theil
respective journals.
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