Rock discovery causes excitement

BBC ^ | Monday, 2 February, 2004, 12:01 GMT | Editorial Staff

[vannrox]

Rock discovery causes excitement

The stone weighs 30 tonnes and is about 17 feet high An ancient rock covered in carved symbols has been discovered in a South American jungle by an archaeologist from Cornwall.

Julien Chenoweth, from St Mawes, said a date test showed the carvings were as old as ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The rock was discovered by Mr Chenoweth after he led an expedition through the Darian area of the Panama jungle, with a party which also included medic Jo Lloyd-King, from Camborne.

A previous archaeologist had been told about the sacred stone by a native Indian, but until now attempts to locate it had failed.

Julian Chenoweth led an expedition through the Panama jungle

The rock has been dated to 3,000 BC. It weighs 30 tonnes and is about 17 feet (5.18 metres) high.

Mr Chenoweth, who works with the Scientific Exploration Society, said he would now write a report on the carvings for the government and he then expected it to attract international attention.



"There is nothing else like it in the area," he said.

"It raises all sorts of questions on what people were doing there, but until more research is done in this area and whether there is a possibility of more rocks like this being found, it is impossible to say what it means."

Mr Chenoweth said it was hard for him, as a Cornishman, to try and say what the Central American culture was saying, but he added: "I believe the rock is a ceremonial place or a boundary marker for a tribe's territory

[vannrox]

cool

[LurkedLongEnough]

You have an affinity for rocks, vannrox?

[Agnes Heep]

The inscriptions have already been partially decrypted: "Here I sit, broken hearted ...."

[Blzbba]

""It raises all sorts of questions on what people were doing there"


Looks like they were carving big rocks..

[anniegetyourgun]

No, no....it says: I am a rock....I am an island....

[Riley]

An ancient rock covered in carved symbols has been discovered in a South American jungle by an archaeologist from Cornwall.

"'Here may be found the last words of Joseph of Arimathea. He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle of aaaaaagggh'."

[Sloth]

He must have died while carving it.

[Riley]

Look, if he was dying, he wouldn't bother to carve 'aarrggh'. He'd just say it!

[theDentist]

I understand it prognosticates: "2003-2004 Patriots by a Field Goal"

[tubebender]

It would make a hellofa paper weight...

[Callahan]

I understand the by-line on the rock is "Helen Thomas reporting for UPI."

[Riley]

Reminds me of the sign that was found in the Confederate submarine "Hunley', when it was raised and opened. It read,

"Re-elect Strom Thurmond".

[Ramius]

Maybe he was dictating....

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm struck by the carving of the enormous Christian symbol on the rock, which is clearly visible in the first picture!!!

[SpinyNorman]

The one in Dighton, MA is much better, and easier to get to!!

Check out http://members.skyweb.net/~channy/dighton.html

[Dog Gone]

The rock is a lot older than 3000 BC. Perhaps they meant the carvings are that old.

[Riley]

:-)

Flag of Cornwall, I think.
http://flagspot.net/flags/gb-corn.html

[Porterville]

I agree it is amazing that a white cross with a blue background would last for 3,000 years.... Christian Indians with quite an artistic ability. I guess the Mormon are right.

[ClearCase_guy]

The rock has been dated to 3,000 BC.

Young Earth Creationists?

[EQAndyBuzz]

Moss grows on a rolling stone?