Americans turned back invaders here, 1541

The picture on the left is not a rock. But there are many rocks in the graveyard below. We drove back about four miles to search for evidence that the graveyard had some connection with De Soto.

Larry and Charles talked about two Spanish bodies and/or two Spanish crosses found in this area. But we, in the car, did not know of any connection.

Yet this cemetery is near the location where the Americans were finally able to turn back De Soto’s advance. How could they accomplish what over 2, 500 Americans could not do a Mavila, AL?

For one thing, the Ozark Americans may have been able to use fire. The region was had a prolonged drought. The time was either late July or August. The Americans in the Ozarks were accustomed to using fire to clear the underbrush. Fire or fear of fire would have discouraged De Soto’s men. Also, fire would have destroyed provisions.

The Ozark trees would have enabled the American archers to get closer and to escape run downs by horses. This hide and run ability would have discouraged De Soto’s men from forays by small groups. Thus De Soto’s forces may not have been able speed out to graze their horses.

However the event happened, the Americans turned back a vicious invader somewhere near this spot. I regret that we, as a people, often lose sight of the valiant people who resisted vicious invaders. Why does it seem more important to mention that “De Soto stepped here” than to erect a monument to the 2,500 Americans who fought to the last man in blazing Mavila?

When the cemetery was named 140 years ago there may have been some reason why the cemetery was named for De Soto. I am not about to suggest they change the name, but I would like to see a small plaque on that thong tree. I think the plaque should read:

“Near this spot in 1541, Americans turned back the most destructive invader on the North American Continent.”

Dickson--Capsian

I included the Dickson projectile point, which Larry found two years ago, as a whimsy rock to make up Five Arkansas Rocks, so I could use the title of a Trip to FAR.

But, as things often happen, there is more value to the “rock” than I knew about.

The Dickson points are found along the Ohio River from West Virginia through Missouri and Arkansas. They span, in time, the Adena and Hopewell cultures of the same area, which build the mounds. Similar mounds, for example, King Midas’ Tomb, have been found in the Mediterranean.

Some entries in the arrowhead books associate them with Adena and/or culture. A very reasonable assumption is that Dickson points are artifacts from those two cultures over a thousand years from 2500 to 1500 years ago.

So, you do not have to go to a museum, or even Arkansas, to see a Dickson point that may have come from the Adena or Hopewell culture. You can buy Dickson arrowheads on Ebay for as low as $5.00.

The Adena and Hopewell cultures both had alphabets that were also found in the Mediterranean area. So, considering the mounds and alphabets, a logical question is: Were points of the same configuration as the Dickson points found in the Mediterranean area? I think the answer is “yes—for both sides of the Mediterranean,” Look via Google for “Capsian arrowheads.” European collections apparently do not group arrowheads by shape, but I think you may agree that the stemmed projectile points may be similar to Dickson points.

Thus the Dickson—Capsian point may be another piece of evidence of ocean commerce during the time period between the collapse if the Bronze Age and the beginnings of the Iron Age. During that time writing was recovering from whatever catastrophe caused the four century “black out.” The Mediterranean fleets were sailing again. Mounds were being built in Turkey and in America. Iron was being shaped into the weapons of war. Copper and bronze were being used for more precious objects. Hunting and cutting was probably still accomplished using stone tools. The Dickson—Capsian tools may have come from the same source.

But what about the distance? From Arkansas to West Virginia is 40 days travel upriver. From Memphis via the Mississippi to the Mediterranean is 60 days travel by slow ship. The travel time should be considered “about the same.” The travel effort favors the ship at sea.

In America the Dickson points are grouped into the “similar shaped” pot. The Capsian points of the similar shape might fit into the same pot. The Dickson-Capsian projectile points may be yet another piece of evidence for Iron Age oceanic commerce before the Krakatau Catastrophe.

So, the little Arkansas rock, the Dickson point, may have revealed more information than I intended.

MORNING of Trip to FAR

The travelers for the 2010 Trip to FAR met in the parking lot of Cave City mayor’s office. Moisture was on the ground and in the air. We began the “getting to know you” ritual.

In the picture you see Denny and Rick of the Exploring Izard County web site (hillbillyizard@yahoo.com ), Steve, a friend of Larry’s, Freda, a writer for the Stone County Citizen, Charlie, a Cherokee who has a cannon he made himself, Lee, from Jole publishers.

What you do not see (much of ) is Larry, associate editor of Batesville Daily Guard, who stepped behind Rick, and me, author, who is behind the camera.

Larry, Charlie, Freda, Denny, Rick, and Steve traveled with us as companions. They contributed valuable information from their experience and contacts. Hail Bryant, who did not travel with us, shared his tales of history. All of them made this Trip to FAR a success beyond expectations.

Arkansas PR calls Arkansas the “natural” state. I hope the people of Arkansas recognize the natural talents of their neighbors and, especially, how precious these natural resources are.

Details of the trip will be published in the following weeks with a focus on each rock in the order of my ranking, by value, from least to most precious.

We done good!!

De Soto's Initial

This time next week, I hope to have been there and seen this rock again.

This is the engraving made by a man who traveled with De Soto. All maps of De Soto’s route do not show that his expedition came as far north as Batesville AR.

But few American historians really care ancient American history. The following quote comes from chapter 5, The Three Hundred Years War, in Earl Shorris’ book entitled The Death of the Great Spirit, 1971.

“The suppression of the true history of America is one of the more exquisite works of human society: the suppressed information is easily available to every citizen, yet few are even aware of its existence.” (p. 77)

American history books do not contain items such as:

The Egyptian expeditions, which may have carved Chartrock over 3200 years ago (ya).

The Iberian settlers, who may have created the Dickinson “arrowheads” 2500 to 1800 ya.

The Norse traders, who may have left tombstones 1400 to 700 ya.

The Irish Christians, who may have left marks on graves 600 to 400 ya.

And De Soto, who punched his name along his path of destruction 469 years ago.

True history was written, for millenniums, on the rocks near Batesville AR. I hope my great grand kids are some of the “few [who] are even aware of its existence.”

Meanwhile, Hal sent this link so you too can learn more true history about Stone County, Arkansas.

I want to read ancient true history.

I am going on a Trip to FAR.

Graves

The grave in the foreground belongs to the Indian princess, the next grave is her husband Levi Moore's and the older grave beyond is the one with the Ogam writing at one corner (and possibly elsewhere).

This stone is on the corner of a grave near the burial place of the Indian princess, Disa Moore. This grave appears much older than hers or her husband's (Levi Moore).

It is rumored that Disa Moore is a descendant of Peter Cornstalk [IV] (one of the younger Peter Cornstalks). A Peter Cornstalk and his brother both married their wives at nearby Wolf House, the oldest public building still standing in Arkansas.

A band of Shawnees lived across White River from Wolf House. The brother reportedly changed his last name to Avey and apparently was never harmed, but Peter Cornstalk is said to have been shot by whites who came to his house when he was there along.

He hid in the chimney, as there was no fire in the fireplace. The attackers thought he was not there but before leaving, one of them fired up the chimney. Cornstalk hung on until they rode away, then climbed down, went out into his cornfield and died. Cornstalk in the cornfield, very ironic. But that's the story.

I think this reportedly happened in Searcy County which is not such an improbably stretch for him to be buried in Farris Cemetery near Onia (pronounced Oney by all the nativ

All are in Farris Cemetery near Onia in Stone County, Arkansas.
____________________________________________________________________-

The CHECKLIST

Travel
..March 24, to Memphis, arrive at 1415
....Shuttle to Batesville
....Batesville motel: Holiday Inn Express
..March 28,
....Ride with Lee to Little Rock by 930
….Flight home. Confirm
PEOPLE
..Myself
..Larry
..Lee and Joy
..Susan No response, assume no show.
..Charlie
..Larry’s other friends—Another car full
..Arkansas invitees, No Response, assume no show.
Schedules
… Rune Stone appointment?
....Atl-Atl demo?
....Program at School?
....Evening program at Cherokee Village?
....Leni Lenape were Christians at Cowboy Church?
....Vehicles: Two, (Larry, Lee, Myron, Charlie,) …(Larry;s invitees)
Things
..Contour Maps. USGS downloads free.
..Bronze Age America, Missed this. Going back to Liv. Pending.
..Ogam and other ancient scripts. OK.
..Dickinson Projectile Point. Need info. Pending.
TO Do
..Load Notebook computer, Pending
..Copy Cornstalk IV heritage? Pending
..Find Chaos of Cosmic Catastrophe? Pending.
..Small straws & tape, Pending
..Camera, Mine now inop. Pending.

The SUMMARY
...Larry, It appears that the people you invite could occupy a second car. I hope for some rotation so we will be able to visit with everybody.
...My biggest concern is the scheduling to see the rune stone. Have you made that ,,,arrangement yet?
,,,Are we going to have any of the extracurricular meeting/

One Week to packing.

Let's lave a good Trip to FAR.

Melungeon physical traits

During his speech, Kennedy brings people to the front of the room to illustrate various Melungeon physical traits. Semitic noses. Central Asian cranial ridges. Shovel teeth. Asian eyefolds. All, he claims, genetic markers to support his theory that Melungeons are of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean origins.
He holds up his hands and reveals a faint scar on each hand. "You ever hear the story about the six-fingered Melungeons? Well, I'm living proof it's true." He had his extra digits, which are common among those of Spanish and Jewish heritage, removed as a young boy.
"Genes don't lie," he says.
Read more at

http://www.blueridgecountry.com/archive/melungeons-revisited.html

In addition to the phenotypic evidence, Kennedy and others have compiled a long list of linguistic similarities between Appalachian and Turkish dialects to prove their assertion of Mediterranean presence in Appalachia.

"I hope other researchers continue the work I've started," he says. "Geneticists and linguists and historians, anthropologists, archeologists: It'll take all of these disciplines to fill in the gaps in the Melungeon story."

Kennedy finishes his speech with some provocative statements. "Why are we doing this? Why are we all here? We're not seeking justice for lost lands -- it's too late for restitution. We surrendered our claims to our land when we assimilated with the larger white culture. It's almost impossible to separate the perpetrators from the victims now.

http://www.melungeons.com/lumbeeproject/croatan.html

Mysterious Melungeons

Larry Stroud
Published Jan. 10, 2007

In 1654, unless someone got the date mixed up, which is always a possibility, English explorers discovered in the Appalachian wilderness a people different from any they knew.

These people were definitely not American Indians, although they had apparently mixed with the native Indians.

They were brown-complexioned, supposed to be of Moorish descent and had European features, often had reddish hair and very distinctive green or blue-green eyes.

They lived in log cabins that had peculiar arched windows.

In April of 1673, James Needham, an Englishman, described the mysterious people as having (quote) a bell which is six foot over which they ring morning and evening and at that time a great number of people congregate together and talk in a language not English nor any Indian dialect.(unquote)

The mysterious people came to be called Melungeons.

These people claimed that they were descended from a group of Portugese who had been shipwrecked or abandoned on the Atlantic coast. Both could be true.

According to English historian David Beer Quinn, in 1586 Sir Francis Drake put ashore several hundred Turkish and Moorish sailors, liberated from the Spanish, on the coast of North Carolina. No trace was found of these people later by ships who stopped there.

Many of those were Sephardic Jews from Spain, Portugal and northern Africa who had converted to Catholicism and may have later converted to the Protestant faith.

And, a fleet of Portuguese ships is known to have wrecked off that same coast in the 1600s, raising the possibility that survivors may have reached shore and made their way inland.

When they first became known, most Melungeons lived in eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia.

I became aware of the Melungeons a couple of decades or so ago from an Associated Press article but never felt a need to research this (quote) lost race,(unquote) as some writers fancifully called them, until Dave Perkey and I recently found an unusual carving on a tombstone in a cemetery in a nearby county.

Actually, I had seen the tombstone once before but it was Perkey whose sharp eyes noticed an unusual thing about the carving; it shows a six-fingered hand (actually five fingers and a thumb) clasping a hand with the normal number of digits.

We agreed immediately that no stonecarver would make such a mistake by accident; that the six-fingered hand meant SOMETHING, perhaps a friendship between people predisposed to hexadactylism (having six fingers or six toes) and people with the normal number of fingers.

So I began researching six-fingered people.

Some Melungeons and their descendants, I learned, have six fingers or six toes and may be related to Turks from a specific area of Turkey who traditionally have the same genetic oddity. A family of people in Turkey actually has a surname that when translated into English comes out as Six Fingered Ones.

The mysterious Melungeons and their descendants also often have other physical characteristics that set them apart, including either an Anatolian bump or a ridge called a Central Asian Cranial Ridge on the back of the skull.

Apparently, no one knows what happened to that six foot over bell of 1673, but another characteristic of Melungeon culture is still around. Melungeons are known to have built little houses of stone over graves, and in the cemetery Perkey and I visited, skillfully built little houses made of stone covered three graves of children.

Other unusual physical characteristics are listed on various Web sites containing information on Melungeons; the same sites from which my information came. Just type the word Melungeons into any search engine to find the sites.

But more interesting to me is the list of illnesses to which Melungeons are predisposed; with most or all of these diseases stemming from the Mediterranean area. More on that in an upcoming column.

After the Civil War, when carpetbaggers overran the South, many people from Tennessee, Kentucky and other Melungeon strongholds moved west. When they found the Ozarks, they may have settled down in what was then almost a wilderness but which was similar in terrain to the homes they had just left.

It is not inconceivable that some of us in this area are of Melungeon descent.

Stay tuned.
---------
Larry Stroud is the associate editor of the Batesville Daily Guard. He can be reached at larrydstroud@yahoo.com or at the Guard office at 793-2383