Posted on 01/29/2006 11:01:42 AM PST by lunarbicep
University of Georgia archaeologists have been puzzling over finding an apparent manmade object buried in a historic Civil War cemetery.
Ground-penetrating radar on parts of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, found a reflection that did not look like a grave during a scan of two Civil War grave sites earlier this month.
"There definitely is something manmade there, something big and metal," said Sheldon Skaggs, a member of the archaeologist team. "Now we have to determine what it is."
Rumors have existed since the 1960s over what happened to two large cannons after the Civil War. No records have been found that indicate they were removed from the city.
Hugh Durden, commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans, said the large cannons, which could fire shells three times larger than standard cannons of the time, could have been stashed underground to protect them from capture.
"This could be treasure for Rome," Durden said. "It also could be somebody's old trash dump, but I don't think so. This is a major mystery."
The university team plans to follow up the find with a magnetometer or a radiometer for more explanation before attempting to excavate the site, Skaggs said. Rome officials would have to allow the second survey and the excavation.
During the Civil War, the city was home to two major hospitals and the famous Noble Brothers cannon foundry. Another large factory created carriages to haul cannons, Mississippi rifles and other items soldiers needed, Durden said.
"This is fun. It's exciting. It's the kind of thing Indiana Jones movies are made of," he added. "If we were to find something, it would show people just how important Rome was in the War Between the States."
In June 2004, the 32-acre cemetery was in the news when two teenagers were charged with vandalizing it. About 85 monuments had been damaged. Several markers were tipped over, others were broken and the walkway to the plot of Ellen Louise Axson Wilson _ President Woodrow Wilson's first wife _ was damaged, police said.
Are there no backhoes in Georgia? Dig the thing up and look at it. Then you'll know what the heck it is. If they can't find an operator, I'll be glad to come down and do it for $1000/day, plus travel and expenses. Sheesh!
Or, they could hire a couple of illegal immigrants, supply them with shovels and they'd have the hole dug by lunchtime.
It the lost Confederate gold!
They are working in a cemetery. Legally, you have to get permission from living family member and court order to dig up a grave, or around the grave of someone.
Curses! Those meddling archaeologists have found my vault!
That was going to be my first guess as well.
Cue the locust-like aliens hopping around on LSD!!!
LOL.
If they find a plaque on the thing that says,
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NEVER, EVER OPEN THIS!!!!
Wanna take bets on how long before they open the darn thing?
AK-47s perhaps?
;-)
LOL! Now, THAT'S funny.
I love it when all the Marians were grasshoppers! Yep, they don't make great Brit sci-fi films like that anymore!
A scientist using the intelligent design theory?
I remember that one! LOL!
That's my guess, too.
Nah... they said it was "big." ;-)
No. Several times found and several times lost. They remain lost.
Following Texas entry into the Union, they were transferred to the federal arsenal in Baton Rouge.
Governor Houston later made a formal request to the Secretary of War for the return of The Twins to Texas. Before that could happen, Louisiana and Texas seceded. The Twins became the possessions of the Confederate State of Louisiana.
We still wanted The Twins returned. One was located at a Louisiana foundry where it was to be smelted down. The other had been sold to a private citizen. The Louisiana legislature rescued The Twins, restored them to health, mounted them on new carriages and returned them to Texas on 20 April 1861.
The Twins were used at first Battle of Galveston where they disappeared from records until late in 1863 when they were reported to be in the Austin arsenal. In early 1864 they were reportedly on their way to the Rio Grande to be used against federal forces there. No record they ever arrived.
Last plausible but unproven sighting was on Houston's Market Square in mid 1865. The sighting included a description of the plaques placed on them by Louisiana back in 1861.
Only replicas, such as the pair on display at the Texas Military Forces Museum on Camp Mabry in Austin, honor the memory and service of the Twin Sisters
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