Dighton Rock 1856 Photo
Published in “Ethnological Researches, Respecting The Red Man of America – Information Respecting the Human Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States”, Bureau of Indian Affairs (1856), Part IV, by Henry R. Schoolcraft, p.120
Having visited the locality of the Dighton Rock, and examined the inscription, in 1847, its true character, as an example of the ideographic system of the Indians, was clearly revealed to my mind. I had no hesitation in adopting an interpretation of it made in 1837 by an Algonquin pictographist, called Chingwauk, in which he determined it to be the memorial of an ancient Indian battle.
The details of this are given in Part I., p. 114. It was perceived that no exact representation of it had ever been made, and no new attempt to make one was then attempted, being without proper apparatus; certain discrepancies were pointed out in Part I., Plate 36, of this work. These, after a lapse of six years, are indicated in a daguerreotyped view of the inscription, taken during the summer of the present season (1853). By this process of transferring the original inscription from the rock, it is shown to be a uniform piece of Indian pictography. A professed daguerreotypist from Taunton attended the artist (Capt. E.) on this occasion. On the uniform dark surface of the rock, no incidence of light could be obtained, after the most careful cleansing of the surface, sufficient in power to reflect the lines of the inscription. These lines are deeply sunk, as if by rubbing with a hard substance; and appear, when carefully studied, of nearly uniform breadth. As the solar rays are, however, reflected with great perfectness from a white surface, the lines were traced with chalk, with great care and labor, preserving their original width.
On applying the instrument to the surface, the impression herewith presented (Plate 14) was given. It presents a unity of original drawing, corresponding to the Indian system, which cannot fail to strike the observer. It is entirely Indian, and is executed in the symbolic character which the Algonquins call Kekeewin, i. e., teachings. The fancied resemblances to old forms of the Roman letters or figures, which appear on the Copenhagen copies, wholly disappear.
The only apparent exception to this remark, is the upright rhomboidal figure, resembling some forms of the ancient 0, but which appears to be an accidental resemblance. No trace appears, or could be found by the several searches, of the assumed Runic letter Thor, which holds a place on former copes. Rock inscriptions of a similar character have, within a few years, been found in other parts of the country; which denotes the prevalence of this system among the aboriginal tribes, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. It is more peculiarly an Algonquin trait, and the inscriptions are called by them Muzzinabiks, or rock-teachings; while the elements of the system itself are called, as above stated, Kekeewin and Kekeenowin. Nor does this discovery militate against the general body of Scandinavian testimony respecting the Ante-Columbian discoveries in America. That testimony remains undisputed, even in more southerly latitudes of the United States. These comprise the notices of the Scandinavian monuments of the United States, so far as they have been recognize. http://www.strange-new-england.com/2018/02/22/leifs-rock/
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Leif’s Rock
There has been a debate in New England as to who were the first visitors to our shores. Centered in this debate are several inscriptions in stone that were found in the Narragansett Basin. The first was the well-known Dighton Rock which was initially recorded in 1680. After that, over 20 other inscriptions were discovered along the shores of southeastern New England. These inscriptions have inspired many theories concerning possible pre-colonial visitors. Such theories suggest Vikings, the Portuguese, the Chinese, the Phoenicians and even Irish monks were possibly the first people to set foot in the northeast.
In 2012 we began hunting down many of the lesser known rock inscriptions in the Narragansett Basin. So far we have located the Tiverton Petroglyphs, Mark Rock, the Portsmouth Cupstone, King’s Rock, and Leif’s Rock. We were able to find the inscriptions on all the stones but King’s and Leif’s Rocks. King’s Rock is currently covered by so much dirt and forest debris it will be difficult to locate the inscription if it does still exist
Though we knew exactly where the inscriptions were located on Leif’s Rock, we could not see any remaining. Leif’s rock is in the tidal zone and has been weathered extensively. In addition, more modern inscriptions have been made on its surface.
Having recently had a great deal of success in using photogrammetry to bring forward details that normal photography will miss, we decided to make a return to Leif’s Rock and see if we might be able to reveal the original inscription. On Feb 19, we hiked out to the rock, and took a series of high resolution photographs, and built a 3D model from them.
At first, we could not see much more detail than we had seen in our original images. So we used a Matcap view of the model, which removes the images, revealing only the detailed shape of the object. As we rotated the model to encourage shadows in the shallower marking, we then saw the inscription of a boat and the markings that were thought to be Viking runes. After over 200 years of weathering and twentieth century graffiti, the inscription still barely holds a grip on its corner of the stone.
This spring we plan to return to the other rocks to create high resolution 3D models for them as well. Hopefully it will also be able to reveal many details thought to have been lost. We also will try to do high resolution images of the famous Dighton Rock to make its many inscriptions easier to view. Who knows? It might just reveal details that others might have missed in the past!
Leif’s Rock was also known as the Northmen’s Runestone. You can find the article of our first visit here: http://www.strange-new-england.com/2015/10/27/northernmen-runestone/
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Narragansett Rock or Pojac Point Rock
Many know of the Dighton Rock. Another popular rock with a rune inscription is called the Narragansett Rock or Pojac Point Rock. It is the second most commonly spoken of landmark in Rhode Island concerning the possible pre-colonial visit by Vikings. The most popular landmark in Rhode Island that is claimed to have been built by Vikings is the Newport tower. What many do not know is that there are many other rocks in Rhode Island that are believed to also have runes inscriptions. Though most are believed to be hoaxes, Indian markings, or just natural features, they are interesting curios of Rhode Island culture and history. Read More
Tiverton Petroglyphs, Mark Rock, the Portsmouth Cupstone, King’s Rock, and Leif’s Rock.
In 2012 we began hunting down many of the lesser known rock inscriptions in the Narragansett Basin. So far we have located the Tiverton Petroglyphs, Mark Rock, the Portsmouth Cupstone, King’s Rock, and Leif’s Rock. We were able to find the inscriptions on all the stones but King’s and Leif’s Rocks. King’s Rock is currently covered by so much dirt and forest debris it will be difficult to locate the inscription if it does still exist. Read More:
Scandinavia’s oldest cup mark rock carvings discovered on Bornholm
Archaeologists have long suspected that Stone Age Scandinavians produced cup mark rock carvings, but until now they had no examples to prove it.
Charlotte Price Persson PUBLISHED Monday 14. August 2017
Archaeologists have made a sensational discovery during an archaeological excavation on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea: two complete stones with cup mark stone carvings dating back to the early Stone Age.
This makes them the oldest known such cup marks–a type of petroglyphs–in Scandinavia by about 1,200 years and their discovery has surprised archaeologists.
The carvings contain figures and symbols, which have been cut, chipped, and ground, into the stone and are regarded as typical of the Bronze Age–the period following the Stone Age.
Many archaeologists suspected that they were in use long before this, and now they have the first evidence to show it.
“It’s a breakthrough. We’ve waited to be able to prove this and it’s fantastic that our assumption has finally been realised,” says lead archaeologist at Bornholm’s Museum, Finn Ole Sonne Nielsen, who also collaborates with the National Museum of Denmark, Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen.
https://openexplorer.nationalgeographic.com/expedition/inscriptions
Mark Rock Petroglyph Site
01-29-2013: The Mark Rock petroglyph site is located on the Providence River in Kent Co., RI. It was first investigated and recorded by Edmund Delabarre of Brown University in the early 1900’s. In 1928, he published “Dighton Rock” which was a study of the Dighton Rock petroglyph site as well as every other site he could locate in RI, and to a lesser degree, bordering states. In 1979 I revisited the site, uncovered some glyphs that had been buried under the sands since Delabarre’s time, and recorded some glyphs for the first time that Delabarre had missed. In 2002, my friend, and former state archaeologist of NJ, Edward Lenik, published “Picture Rocks. American Indian Rock Art in the Northeast Woodlands”, which included a section on Mark Rock, and included a few of my photos. I will post links to these works at the end of this thread entry.
The dot within a circle is one of the most common petroglyph motifs in the Americas. Perhaps the world? Tyson posted a photo of such a design on a panel in Colorado in the “Off the Wall” category. There are several examples at the Mark Rock site. First, is a human figure, which Delabarre interpreted as a native depiction of a colonial soldier with breast straps and buttons. It must be stated, though, that Delabarre believed natives only began creating petroglyphs after seeing Europeans write on paper, and these petroglyphs are of unknown age. At any rate, this is the best preserved human figure above the sands, although last I checked, it had become covered.
Native American Cup-Stone
(Located on grounds of Portsmouth Historical Society between front corner of town hall & rear corner of church) https://portsmouthhistorical.org/buildings-and-exhibits-2/
~ Moved from the shore on edge of water near Arnold’s Point in early 1990s
~ Others existed in Portsmouth but have been lost, one at McCorrie Point and several at Melville. All were on the shore.
~ Cup Stones are found throughout the world. They date to the same time frame as Dighton Rock.
~ They are thought to have been used as part of pre-Christian religious beliefs and rites. Some in our region have been attributed to Wampanoag Tribe.
~ The holes are not perfectly round but rounded triangular holes. Our stone has weathered over time making holes rounder and channels shallower.
~ Appearance varies in number of cups/holes symbols on the stone and the presence of connecting lines. Our stone is thought to represent the big dipper with the seventh hole weathered.
~ Researchers have not conclusively indicated if our stone is authentic. Here are the pros & cons to authenticity.
Pros
- Lines are primitive in their pecked nature
- Hole shape & depth consistent with stone in Scotland
- 1910 opinion of Washington DC anthropologist was that it was cup-stone
- 1910 examination referred to traces of 7th hole with connecting line barely visible
Cons
- Not inventoried in early Dr. Styles survey of Inscribed Stones
- First recorded in 1910
- 1910 anthropologist could not conclude if our stone inscription was Wampanoag
- Holes appear less frequently than cups
- Holes can be replicated using a cold chisel
Interested in more information: Click on this: Arnolds Point Stone Background Story
