Posted on 08/14/2006 10:17:53 PM PDT by Marius3188
May prove LaSalle explored Mississippi before Marquette
QUINCY - What's certain is that something's written in the stone. What's less certain is whether the markings have any historical significance.
Now, University of Illinois scientists have agreed to examine the limestone slab some believe proves French explorer Robert Cavelier de LaSalle was the first white man to see the upper Mississippi River in 1671 -- two years before Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet made their famous trek.
The foot high, 8-inch wide stone, which was found by a farmer in the early 1900s in Ellington Township north of Quincy, has prompted speculation for decades.
Lee Politsch, 84, of Quincy has been in the forefront of that speculation since he first heard about the stone in 1956, then got permission to study it.
History books widely peg Marquette and Joliet as the first Europeans to explore the Mississippi. But Politsch has spent 50 years arguing that LaSalle happened upon the upper Mississippi two years earlier, and he says the mysterious stone proves just that.
Among the markings on the stone are the numbers "1671."
Politsch told the Quincy Herald-Whig he hopes the university researchers, by examining the Ellington Stone, will come up with hard evidence backing his theory.
The researchers will conduct a variety of tests -- including ones to determine if the stone was actually carved in the 1600s or, alternatively, if it might be a fake.
"If they come back and say, yep, those carvings are about 300 years old, then that would be sensational," Politsch said. "But if they decide that that cutting was done about 1905 or around there, then it's going to kind of take the wind out of the stone's sails."
Even if the researchers manage to disprove Politsch's theory, the effort won't be a waste of time, argued Sarah Wisseman, director of the Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials at the U of I's Champaign-Urbana campus.
The researchers will borrow the stone for six months from the Quincy Museum, and they will also present a report of their findings sometime next year.
"Even if we fail to say this is definitely authentic or not authentic, we will have increased the information available about the stone, which, from a museum perspective, means you can tell a better story," she said.
The Quincy Museum's executive director holds out at least a hope of something dramatic.
"If it turns out to be what Mr. Politsch and some of the other researchers believe it is ... it will change our perception of Illinois history dramatically," said Barbara Wilkinson. "It could just be shattering as far as the current accepted discovery of Illinois."
Ping
That's Right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG FIVE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a/the big five & why does it rule?
Let's keep Clam. If one Frog beat another there by two whole years makes no difference and certainly isn't dramatic news.
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-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
The two-inch-thick slab of limestone — a foot high and eight inches across — captured Cook's attention because of the markings carved onto its surface, including:
* The letters "IHS" (a Greek abbreviation for Jesus) with a small cross extending up from the "H."
* A larger cross below the letters in a unique "reclining" position.
* The numerals "1671."
From what I understand, it has to be the real deal. The markings translate to "On this day in 1671, we surrender."
So after escaping to France, Jesus lived 1600 years, came to the New World and discovered Illinois, and then died so he could begin voting. This is obviously his gravestone. /Dan Brown
French, farmer, Illinois... Nuttin like a target rich opportunity.
This girl ain't into no round ball, cept for dribs & drabs that I hear about local stuff, UWM, Marquette, UW-Madison.
Why keep clams, I thought the Frogs liked snails. ;) Sorry, I couldn't resist, get goofy this late at night.
Should've put some "Old Mill" polish or nosegrease into those bright white peckmarks. They look kind of new.
If this was carved by a genuine Frenchman, wouldn'the the "7" have a crossbar on it, as has long been the custom of Frogs, Europeans in general, and your more pretentious New York waiters when totting up your check?
(I hope nopardons can keep clam when she reads this thread.)
Yes, and further, the font appears to be Arial, a design unknown in the 1600's.
Also, elements of Word Art, a Windows based text manipulator, are evident in the stylized 'arch curve' at the top of the stone.
Clearly, something is amiss, despite the 'fake but correct' assertions of the proponents of this hoax...
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