Tucson Artifacts
by Becca Gross
What are the Tucson Artifacts?
The Tucson Artifacts, also known as the Tucson Crosses or Silverbell Artifacts, totaled more than thirty lead objects resembling crosses, swords, and other religious related objects. [3]
Where were the Tucson Artifacts found?
The Tucson Artifacts were found in Tucson, Arizona. To give some context, in 1924, Tucson, Arizona was dry, hot, and a vast desert. The town had a record low year in terms of rainfall at this time. There was nothing special about Tucson, except for the University of Arizona, which only had 1600 students and a faculty of 130. [4] All in all, Tucson was not a well known town.
The Discoveries and Excavations
There were two main discoveries of the Tucson Artifacts. The excavation of these discoveries were well documented by in the newspaper and with photos.
The First Discovery
The first Tucson Artifact was found in Tucson, Arizona in September of 1924 by Charles Manier. Manier and his family were traveling along Silverbell Road and they became interested in these abandoned lime kilns. The family stopped and approached the kiln. As they did, Manier saw an object sticking out of the ground. [6] It turns out that Manier saw a metal cross sticking out of the ground by the abandoned lime kiln on the property of a man named Thomas W. Bent. Upon further discovery, the metal cross was two pieces stuck together in the form of a cross. When Manier broke the two pieces apart, he discovered a foreign looking lettering engraved onto them.[3]
Translation
Manier made the first discovery of the Tucson Artifacts by discovering the two part cross with foreign lettering. Upon this discovery, he contacted Dr. Frank H. Fowler, a professor at the University of Arizona who teaches Latin, and he was able to interpret the Latin lettering. [3] Included is the partial translation done by Dr. Frank H. Fowler of the First Tucson Artifact:
"We are borne over the sea [to] Calalus, an unknown land
[where] Toltezus Silvanus ruled far and wide over a people.
Theodore transferred his troops to the foot of the city Rhoda
and more than seven hundred were captured. No gold is taken away.
Theodore, a man of great courage, rules for fourteen years. Jacob
rules for six. With the help of God, nothing has to be feared. In
the name of Israel. OL. Jacob renews the city. With God's help Jacob
rules with mighty hand in the manner of his ancestors. Sing to the Lord.
May his fame live forever. OL." [7]
The Remaining Discoveries
The cross that was discovered by Manier was found on Thomas W. Bent's property. Together Bent and Manier excavated the rest of the artifacts. The other thirty-some artifacts consisted of more crosses, swords, spearpoints, and religious artifacts. All of which have been referred to as the Silverbell Road artifacts, Silverbell artifacts, Tucson artifacts, Tucson Roman artifacts, and lead crosses. [4]
Psuedoarchaeological Narrative
There are multiple psuedoarchaeological narratives as to what these artifacts prove or contribute to. Depending on who you ask, you will get a different story, which contributes even more to the pseudo nature of these discoveries. Other information worth noting is the use of A.D. for the dating on these artifacts before that had become common terminology for establishing dates and the usage of modern words in the inscriptions of the artifacts. [6]
Documentation
Despite any controversy surrounding the discovery of the Tucson Artifacts, Thomas Bent remained a true believer in the authenticity of the artifacts. Additionally, he wrote out a report in length surrounding the discovery of the artifacts in great detail. This book was entitled "The Tucson Artifacts". Sixty-six years later, Bent's son, Thomas W. Bent Jr., donated the collection and all the artifacts to the Arizona Historical Society. [6] The collection consisted of the following:[6]
Box 1
Series 1: Correspondence and Personal Materials, 1956-1994
Subseries A: Correspondence of Thomas W. Bent, Sr., 1956-1992.
Folder 1-8: Correspondence, A-McGee 1964-1992
Box 2
f.9-11 Correspondence, McGee-Z 1964-1971
f.12 Miscellaneous Letters, Sketches, Etc. 1956-1971
Subseries B: Correspondence of Thomas W. Bent, Jr., 1956 -1994
f.13 Correspondence, A-L 1971-1994
Box 3
f.14-19 Correspondence, M-Z 1956-1993
f.20 Institute For the Study of American Cultures 1992-1993
f.21 Planning for 1989-1990 Re-Examination of Silverbell Site 1989-1990
Series II: Research Materials, 1924-1990
f.22 Book 1, Sections A and B 1924-1953
Excavation and Investigation Statements
Communication With Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, Salt Lake, City, UT
f.23 Book 1, Section C 1929-1957
Letters With University of Arizona Individuals
f.24 Book 2, Section A 1924-1925
Agreements and Contracts
f.25 Book 2, Section B 1961-1964
Copyright Material Information
Authorization Letters
f.26 Book 2, Section C 1925
Early Excavation Data (Records and Statistics)
f.27 Book 2, Section D and E 1925-1947
Material on Persons and Organizations Interested
Publicity and Stories
Box 4
f.28 Book 3, Sections A-D 1925-1963
Investigative Report by George Howley
Assay Reports
f.29 Book 3, Sections E-L 1956-1961
Radiocarbon Dating Reports
Metal Analyses
f.30 Book 3, Sections M-P 1924-1963
Sun Worshipers
Story of Navigating Serpent
f.31 Book 5 1924-1926/1956
Newspaper Clippings
f.32 Book 6 1924-1971
Printed Materials/Articles Mostly Not Directly Related to Artifacts
f.33 Book 6 (Photos)
Some Tucson Artifacts
Other Artifacts Unrelated to Bent’s Artifacts
f.34 Miscellaneous Research Notes, Translations, and Rubbings 1925
f.35 Research Materials from Peter L. Steere (University of Arizona
Library) 1990
Also see Box 6 and 7 for Research Notes on File Cards
Series III: Manuscripts and Published Materials, 1928-1990
f.36 “The Tucson Artifacts” by Thomas W. Bent 1928
Box 5
f.37 “The Silverbell Artifacts” (Draft) by Jan Eppinga 1990
f.38 “Calalus 775-900 A.D.: A Re-Examination of the Bent Artifacts”
by Cyclone Covey
f.39 “The Tucson Artifacts-Revisited” (Draft) by Chris Hardaker 1986
f.40 Articles or Publications Referencing the Tucson Artifacts
f.41 Documents/Background Information Set to Lawyers 1971
f.42 Presentation Outlines
f.43 Newspaper Clippings 1925-1926/1970
Series IV: Photos, 1925-1992
f.44 Artifacts on Display
f.45-48 Artifacts at Excavation Site 1925/1956
f.49 Artifacts and Researchers 1925
f.50 Panoramic Photos 1925?
f.51 Photos From Thomas W. Bent Jr. Correspondence 1992
f.52 Unidentified Prints 1989
Box 6
Indexed File Cards-Research Notes, Library Call Slips, etc
Box 7
Research Cards-Organized by Subject and Related to Artifacts
The following are a few explanations for what the Tucson Artifacts indicate or history they are claimed to support:
Romans in Tucson
When the Tucson Artifacts were translated, they revealed a narrative of a battle in the 8th Century between Native Americans, described as "Toltezus", predecessors of the Aztecs, and a settlement of Roman Jews. The artifacts in nature suggested there was an Ancient Roman Settlement in Tucson, Arizona. [8]
Additionally, another narrative of Romans in Tucson was found on the the inscription of the cross that supported the traveling of ships from the Roman Empire to the New World. Yet these ships, carrying 700 Christianized Romans, landed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Then the Christian Romans marched northwest until they got to, what is now known as, Tucson, Arizona. According to the cross, they built a city named Terra Calalus. This was all said to have taken place from 775 A.D. to 900 A.D. In 900 A.D. the Native American tribes that had lived there previously destroyed the Roman colony, which is why there was no trace found until these artifacts. [9]
Mormons
The Mormons attempted to use the inscriptions on the artifacts to prove the book of Mormon to be truthful.
Proof In The Pudding
References
- ↑ Nelson, Rian. “THE AMERICAN INDIAN IS OF SEMITIC ORIGIN/LEAD ARTIFACTS.” Bofm.blog, 2020, https://www.bofm.blog/the-american-indian-is-of-semitic-origin/.
- ↑ “Tucson Artifacts Suggest Romans Made It to New World in 8th Century: Expert.” Www.theepochtimes.com, 10 Apr. 2016, https://www.theepochtimes.com/tucson-artifacts-suggest-europeans-made-it-to-new-world-in-8th-century-expert_2017332.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Moran, Gary. “Genuine Ooparts Crucial to History or a Colossal Hoax? A Thorough Examination of the Tucson Artifacts.” Ancient Origins, Ancient Origins, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/tucson-artifacts-0011720
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Burgess, Don. “Romans in Tucson? The Story of a Archeological Hoax.” Go.gale.com, University of Arizona, 2009, https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA203330630&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=08948410&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E42debf.
- ↑ America, Post author By Ancient. “Tucson Crosses and Quetzalcoatl.” Ancient America, 6 Oct. 2015, https://ancientamerica.com/tucson-crosses-and-quetzalcoatl/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Tackenberg, William. “Bent Family Collection - Arizona Historical Society.” Bent Family Collection, https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/library_Bent-Family.pdf.
- ↑ Hunter, J. Michael. “The Kinderhook Plates, the Tucson Artifacts, and Mormon Archeological Zeal.” Journal of Mormon History, vol. 31, no. 1, Mormon History Association, University of Illinois Press, 2005, pp. 31–70, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23289247.
- ↑ “Romans Allegedly in Tucson.” Pima County Public Library, https://www.library.pima.gov/content/romans-allegedly-in-tucson/
- ↑ Hudnall, Ken. “Did Europeans Settle in the Arizona Desert Thousands of Years before Columbus Sailed to America?” Borderzine, 2 Mar. 2012, https://borderzine.com/2012/03/did-europeans-settle-in-the-arizona-desert-thousands-of-years-before-columbus-sailed-to-america/.