New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-01
A PREHISTORIC RECORD.
CURIOUS SCULPTURES On SANDSTONE AT
MOUNT NEBEL, TENNESSEE.

| SOME KNorTY PROBLEMS FOR ARCHAEoLoGIsTs-
THE RELIC FORTUNATELY PRESERVED
INTACT BY THE FTNDER-sPEuMENs
OF EARLY AMERICAN
LITERATURE.
Washington, March l9.-The rock tablet at Mount
Nobel in Bradley County. Tennessee. was dis
covered semc months ago by Isaac Hooper. upon
whose estate this elevation is situated lie was
in search Of building material at the time and
raised same OF the marked stones that were I'M
perfectly covered with surface soil. During TINS
operation it was observed that characters re-
sembng writing appeared on one side OF those
which had been cyhumcd. They were, there-
fore preserved instead of being destroyed or
lost like most Of the archaeological remains tna'
have been found in these parts Subsequently th's
discovery was brought to the notice OF " ii'iaih
F. Duncan. of Chatata, in the same county, who
regarding the markings as script OF some Riho'
projected excavations and finally reported the
matter both to The National Tribune" at WASH
ington ana 10 the Smithsonian Institution whence
il bappcncd that the writer had an opportunity
for observing this singular object
This so-called "ancent wall" is not wall at
ALL in the strict meaning of that term. III Is u
ridge of rcd sandstone Ia rock in this region
about twenty miles long, and with gcncrai line
of direction north and south. The formation tcr-
inmates abruptly within mile and a haii oil 'h'
Havasce River, and its altitude is not greater ''
the point called Mount Nobel than 1t Is III o'"ci
places Limestone hills run parallel with these
bcicbts on either <rle and for the most part are
highcr and more extended in all directions than
the forest-cad elevation in question
The present name of this spot has been only
recently conferred. 1t bestowed upon IL III
consequence Of q very general conviction "hic"
existed in the vicinity that the cut stones really
formed a 'wall and that this had been pui't ny
Moses: or il not by the Lawgiver himself, thch NY
whatever leader led the Lost Tribes of Israel to
Tennessee. Seen as it now appears after siN'eeh
bv twelve feet of its surface has been
laid bare, these mysterious rocks preseh'
so many puzzles OF different kinds, that one who
studies them might perhaps be excused Tor ioi'
lowing the example Of those tribes of the EXODUS
WIN in passing the Jordan, stood on Mount
Nebcl to curse"
The facts concerning this cnigmatical subject
are so far as observed, briefly these. Looking
At the figured stone exposed, II Is Mt once aP
parcnt that in order 10 have reached the middle OF
those three LAYERS Of sandstone forming the ledge
A deep bank OF red, slaty and yellow clay must
first have been removed, ana thon the outer wall
lcnckcd by displacement in various directions
taken down. This has just been done. and might
undoubtedly have been accomplished previously
A. the same time il seems TO Dc improbable that
such was The case and it is more likely that the
plates OF rock fractured vertically on both sides
by oscillation and also broken irregulary in
longitudinal direction, have subsidized since these
marks were placed upon them. In this event un
equal sinking might account FOR the obhqnity
a.
Between the outer and inner layers a plate OF
natural cement intcrposcs that Is composed OF
the cays spoken Of mixed With washings from
the surface soil This has partially covered the
marks on the right This must have been formed
after subsistence, and while the several rocks com
posing the ridge were somewhat separated. Shafts
sunk along the crest reveal the same formation.
hut here these layers closely applied. and
there is no cement and no trace OF any markings
Further nj the point where the cravings appear
the roc, is nutcd and the 6gurings occupy the
raised surfaces There is no trace OF dressing
the stones, but, assuming the formation 20 have
been ut one time sub-aerial and It's constituent
portions in the same relation 10 each other
as NJ present. there would have been no
great difficulty in removing and replacing
the layer covering its inner table. OF
course these are merely suggestions. and NAV be
taken MS such. No one is likely to know anything
for certain concerning this strange object until
il has been thoroughly investigated.
The marks themselves certainly appear 10 be
artificial and designed Where the cuttings are
most clcarl' seen. MS for example the left side
the signs are shaded by deepening and making
broader the sharp triangular incisions. In many
places, these are filed with cement, but II is
easily removed with the point Of knife, and be-
sides this il rapidly weathcrs and scales of when
exposed 70 the air In considering the question
Of natural or artificial origin for these lines Of
markings. oil that can be said with certainty is
derived from rough analysis and comparison OF
eight hundred md seventytw'o Of them. carefully
drawn by Mr.. Duncan. and afterward verified by
the writer from the originals. Apart from the
ndescribaby non-natural physiognomy they pre-
sent there is a OF essential forms, and
a repetition Of fac SMILES that. according 10 the
calculus of probabilities make the chances in favor
Of the hypothesis Of their design Overwhelmingly
great.
The plan adopted in the very incomplete cXami-
nation Of this tablet so far made was TO place
By themselves the signs which were essentially
similar. TO note the characteristic additions at
tached to them, and finally to record their combi-
nations, and 10 some extent the relative positions
which they sustained toward each other. Re
nroductions are offered below as examples OF
part Of what has been done according 10 the above
mentioned method Among the 81 figures on the
tablet the simplest are sigmold markings, many OF
them double Of which the following arc examples:
&. o~&2 oO~ ~
- 70 P
Then there are lI5 rude variations OF the circle.
| and the epse Of which the following are cNam-