Dates - yes, but nephites/lamanites not in this space time dimension. None of those civilizations were advanced metallurgically, none had horses, none raised old world crops and no middle eastern-hebraic/egyptian related writings have been found. What has been found has been deciphered and guess what - lots of history of other tribes and cultures - except no lamanites/nephite cultures as described in the bom. It is little wonder that both the Smithsonian Inst and the Nat'l Geographic society are on the record as flat out denying that the bom records any factual history of the new world.
I have read the testimony of a Mesoamerican archaeologist who had an encounter with one of the three immortal Nephites mentioned in the Book of Mormon, on a mountain in Mexico that is the real Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
I read that, it was in the copy of the weekly world news were the aliens were shaking hands with Clinton IIRC.
I have read the testimony of a Mesoamerican archaeologist who had an encounter with one of the three immortal Nephites mentioned in the Book of Mormon, on a mountain in Mexico that is the real Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
That is probably because none of them handled the plates, let alone physically saw the plates.
Against this ignorant armchair assessment are the facts concerning the witnesses, carefully studied and compiled in Richard LLoyd Anderson's 1981 book Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses. No one can read this book without noticing that, though many of the witnesses became estranged from the church (and were therefore intensely goaded on to deny their printed testimonies in the Book of Mormon), none of them denied those testimonies, not even on their deathbeds.
These plain facts leave the enemies of the Book of Mormon (most of whom have never actually read it from cover to cover) with nothing but a hope for some mass deception. The word "hefted" in the testimony of the eight witnesses would for most people, especially for those open-minded enough to read Anderson's book, mean that the plates were at least a physical reality!
Those who hate the Book of Mormon should at least read it, if for no other reason than to find exactly what, if anything, is wrong with it. To trust in previous ignorant rants and simply renew them is on the same order as those who rant about the Arizona Immigration law without having read it.
You ANTI's never give it up; do you?
ANYone knows that to see them with SPIRITUAL eyes is MUCH better that using your ACTUAL eyes!
--MormonDude(I just LOVE my Church! We are BONA-FIDE!))
Have been working my way through the History of Susquehanna County by Emily Blackman. Much there re:Smith’s diggings. Too my knowledge the Spanish silver mine was never located.
However, much of that County is located in the Marcellus Shale. Natural gas aplenty. Many land owners now leasing/selling land for gas exploration. $$$.