Badger Bart
Sr. Member
- Mar 24, 2005
- 301
- 18
Archaeologists puzzle over object buried in Civil War cemetery
The Associated Press - ROME, Ga.
University of Georgia archaeologists have been puzzling over finding an apparent manmade object buried in a historic Civil War cemetery.
Ground-penetrating radar on parts of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, found a reflection that did not look like a grave during a scan of two Civil War grave sites earlier this month.
"There definitely is something manmade there, something big and metal," said Sheldon Skaggs, a member of the archaeologist team. "Now we have to determine what it is."
Rumors have existed since the 1960s over what happened to two large cannons after the Civil War. No records have been found that indicate they were removed from the city.
Hugh Durden, commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans, said the large cannons, which could fire shells three times larger than standard cannons of the time, could have been stashed underground to protect them from capture.
"This could be treasure for Rome," Durden said. "It also could be somebody's old trash dump, but I don't think so. This is a major mystery."
The university team plans to follow up the find with a magnetometer or a radiometer for more explanation before attempting to excavate the site, Skaggs said. Rome officials would have to allow the second survey and the excavation.
During the Civil War, the city was home to two major hospitals and the famous Noble Brothers cannon foundry. Another large factory created carriages to haul cannons, Mississippi rifles and other items soldiers needed, Durden said.
"This is fun. It's exciting. It's the kind of thing Indiana Jones movies are made of," he added. "If we were to find something, it would show people just how important Rome was in the War Between the States."
In June 2004, the 32-acre cemetery was in the news when two teenagers were charged with vandalizing it. About 85 monuments had been damaged. Several markers were tipped over, others were broken and the walkway to the plot of Ellen Louise Axson Wilson _ President Woodrow Wilson's first wife _ was damaged, police said.
The Associated Press - ROME, Ga.
University of Georgia archaeologists have been puzzling over finding an apparent manmade object buried in a historic Civil War cemetery.
Ground-penetrating radar on parts of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, found a reflection that did not look like a grave during a scan of two Civil War grave sites earlier this month.
"There definitely is something manmade there, something big and metal," said Sheldon Skaggs, a member of the archaeologist team. "Now we have to determine what it is."
Rumors have existed since the 1960s over what happened to two large cannons after the Civil War. No records have been found that indicate they were removed from the city.
Hugh Durden, commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans, said the large cannons, which could fire shells three times larger than standard cannons of the time, could have been stashed underground to protect them from capture.
"This could be treasure for Rome," Durden said. "It also could be somebody's old trash dump, but I don't think so. This is a major mystery."
The university team plans to follow up the find with a magnetometer or a radiometer for more explanation before attempting to excavate the site, Skaggs said. Rome officials would have to allow the second survey and the excavation.
During the Civil War, the city was home to two major hospitals and the famous Noble Brothers cannon foundry. Another large factory created carriages to haul cannons, Mississippi rifles and other items soldiers needed, Durden said.
"This is fun. It's exciting. It's the kind of thing Indiana Jones movies are made of," he added. "If we were to find something, it would show people just how important Rome was in the War Between the States."
In June 2004, the 32-acre cemetery was in the news when two teenagers were charged with vandalizing it. About 85 monuments had been damaged. Several markers were tipped over, others were broken and the walkway to the plot of Ellen Louise Axson Wilson _ President Woodrow Wilson's first wife _ was damaged, police said.
