EARLY AMERICAN BILLBOARDS
Nearly everyone is fascinated by the carvings and paintings
of animals and symbols left on rocks by
early Americans. Much
time has been spent to understand what they mean, but it is generally
accepted by the academic community that we really don't know, except for those recent enough
that Native Americans can interpret.
When we see modern graffiti, we condemn the vandalism and
want the perpetrator to be fined and
repair the damage. I was shocked a few years ago when I saw approximately 900 square feet of such
desecration gouged into the sandstone face of a Missouri River bluff. I had heard about carvings of
animals at this location, and wanted to see and photograph them in an effort to better understand this
medium of communication.
On my third trip there I felt I had found most of the animals and symbols that were readable and I
began searching among the carvings of Bill, Fred, and Alice to see what they so carelessly had
concealed. It soon became apparent that most of the letters were clear, but unintelligible. The letters
repeated and were obviously not the ones we used. So began the puzzle that has occupied most of my
free time during the past years.
My research has shown me that there are many people who understand this unintelligible graffiti is
the alphabet of early Americans who left their messages in much the same way we use billboards.
My disgust has turned to admiration of prehistoric scribes who have left us a valuable record of
their civilization. We are beginning to better understand their religion, commerce, laws, and
aspirations. Although much information has been already documented, Missouri has an extensive collec-
tion of these records that have not been recorded or evaluated. It is my hope that people will assist in
the location of these prehistoric billboards, the same way they have recorded the location of caves.
It is around caves that the vast majority of these inscriptions have been found.
I know that much controversy surrounds this subject, and it will not be the purpose of this forum to
enter into that quagmire. I want to record as many of these inscriptions as possible before
development and the elements erase them. This resource will be made available to future historians
who want to accept the challenge of evaluating what this evidence means for American history.
What can you do? When you are climbing through the rocks and valleys of the Midwest and notice
letters carved into the rocks, take a moment and see if you understand what has been written. If you
CAN'T, please copy a sample, exactly as you see it, and contact me. I will add this material to the
3000 sq. ft. of inscriptions I have already found. You can share with others the thrill of discovering a
part of history (an accepted myth) that has been missed.
I will eventually fill this webpage with samples of the inscriptions I have found so you can better
understand what is out there. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS VIEWING FILES
October 29,1998 Site 7 has been added today in an effort to show you both the original
photograph and the inscription that was found. This discovery was made accidentally. I was on a
family outing on the Mississippi River in Minnesota. While boating I spotted petroglyphs near a small
cave and later went to the location on foot. This cave is in a residential area and visited often by locals.
These inscriptions are everywhere, you may find one when you least expect it.
November 3,1999 I have recently received information about a cave in the midwest
that is full of inscriptions. You might find this interesting. Go to:
Coopna Cave:
http://journeyspirits.dirtbrothers.org/
Ocotber 22, 2000 Site 8 has been added because Dwight Weaver
took me to a location where he recognized the presence of inscriptions.
November 1, 2000 Site 9 has been added today.
September 18, 2001 Site 10 was added. Jeff Stilson guided a group
to a new location and Chris Wolters took the pictures.
January 5, 2002 Site 11 has been added today as part of large amount
of inscriptions that have been identified in a Missouri cave.
July 20, 2002 Site 12 has been added today.
August 26, 2002 Site 13 has been added today because Van Tobin contacted me
about a cave he and his father visited on family property years ago. Many
local traditions surround this cave and Van has always been interested in the
meaning of the markings he saw on the cave walls.
January 28,2003 Site 14 has been added today because a rock collector,
Vincent Tuerpe,
profdigger39@msn.com
sent me some photos of unusual rocks he found in Oregon. He would
appreciate any comments you might have.
August 5, 2003 Site 15 has been added today because a Missouri farmer and
his neighbors have informed me of mounds and inscriptions on their lands.
So far I have inventoried 716 circular mounds with an average undisturbed size
of 3ft. high and 25 ft. diameter. Other mounds of a different configuration
occur, but they are the exception. There appear to be 2 previously
balanced rocks that have shifted and an upright stone monument.
Many rock tablets have also been found.
Feb. 19, 2004 Site 16 has been added today because Jim Jung contacted
me about inscriptions he found in Illinois. To see his findings not shown here go to:
The Waterman & Hill Traveler's Nature Almanac
http://www.naturealmanac.com/archive/a_a/anc_a.html