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PRE-COLUMBIAN VIRGINIA ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE

 

Adam Arkfeld

adam.arkfeld@gmail.com

 

 

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Introduction

 

          Investigations of an archaeological site along the Opequon Creek in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia since 2012 points to the presence of ancient Scythian colonists.  Significant amounts of iron slag and refractories are present. (see Radiocarbon Report #1 & #2). Also recovered are cast iron artifacts (Fig. ?).  The metallurgy here was quite advanced.  As unlikely as it seems, slags found suggest aluminum production.  One at first is very skeptical, as it seems far too advanced for the time period.  However, then there was the discovery of a piece of aircraft aluminum that has been sculpted into a profile (Fig. ? ).  (Enki perhaps).  It was recovered at a depth in association with stone artifacts.  Another large piece has been recovered since (Fig. ?).  See vimana craft with tail rudder on upper right (Fig. ???).  Impossibly small pilot at controls.  Very mysterious.

 

          An advanced blast furnace was operating in the area circa 150 AD. (Fig. 19)  Remnants of the milldam and deep race channels are readily observable (Fig. ?).  C14 results bracket the TL date ??.  Not only was evidence uncovered of advanced metallurgy but also fired brick was manufactured in great quantities during the same period (Fig. ?). TL results from the brick are in process of determination.  Evidence indicates that a step mound was faced with glazed brick pavers (Fig. ?).  There are virtually tons of 2000-year-old brick in situ. (Fig. ?).  The furnace wall sample was dated 150 AD by the University of Washington.  There is proof that smelting was occurring here on an industrial scale using an anthracite fired blast furnace.  Sections of the milldam are still existent. Significant earth works created to channel the millrace are still apparent.  Anthracite has been found in association with the furnace. C14 testing of the slag confirms fossil fuel use.  Two different samples tested by Beta Labs, both produced infinite dates.  Anthracite is the only coal suitable for smelting.  Geological maps show that east coast anthracite beds accessible by water are limited.  The most accessible mine from the Chesapeake is the Meadow Branch Mine in West Virginia, and 20 miles west of the furnace site.  The archeological site is the closest one can get to the mine where a mill could be constructed and there is a navigable water route to the Potomac River.  The fuel was crucial to their metallurgy, which would explain why this location was chosen. A two pound pig bar is shown on the cover of Fig. 19.

 

Table 1

 

Fig. 1. 

Fig. 2.  Etching probably done by Scythian slaves

Fig. 3. 

Fig. 4. 

 

Fig. 5.  Etching probably done by Scythian slaves

Fig. 19.  Virginia Iron smelting 150 AD

 

 

          Most recognize thie limestone sculpture in Figure 7 as an Anubis bust.  On learning that it is from Virginia, an observer's vision becomes fuzzy and denial sets in.  The iron-embalming knives (Fig. 9) cause a similar reaction.  I have fired clay and stone Horus hawks, Osiris, Thoth...pretty much the whole pantheon.  Many Baal figurines (Fig. ?) and his signature pornography (Fig. ?)  as well.  There is no lack of Scythian characters, tall pointed hats abound (Fig. ?).  The stone mounds here are interlaced with logs, consistent with Kurgan design.

 

Table 2

 

 

 

Fig. 6. 

Fig. 7.  Anubis bust

Fig. 8. 

Fig. 9.  Ironing embalming knives

 

 

 

          The Sumerians were probably the only culture with knowledge to make an accurate planetary chart (Fig. 13).  This example was recovered adjacent to a stream in an aqueous environment.  The etched circles on the back of a Taurus (or bison) bull (Fig. 12)  have been permeated with white calcite.

 

Table 3

 

 

Fig. 10. 

Fig. 11.  Possibly a bison bull carving

Fig. 12.  Etching of bison bull

Fig. 13.   Sumerian planetary chart

 

 

Table 4

 

Fig. 14.  

Fig. 15.  

Fig. 16.  

 

          This mattock was recovered within 10 feet of the cast iron profile.  Both of these artifacts were submerged and preserved in mud and sand. The water has a high mineral concentration.  I have sealed both because exposure began deteriorating them rapidly. The wood remaining in the socket of the mattock is petrified.  I have little doubt of the antiquity of the iron mask as the profile matches many others in my collection that are made of stone. The mattock is made of the same metal and shows identical patination/oxidation.  It can be surmised that both items are from the same time period.  Assuming that organic material is still present, the wood remaining in the socket makes that mattock an ideal iron artifact to test and date.  the Opequon Creek

 

Table 5

 

Fig. 17.  

Fig. 18.  

 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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Kramer, S. N.  (1988).  History Begins at Sumer.  Univ. of Pennsylvania Press.  416 pp.

 

Kriwaczek, P.  (2014).  Babylon.  Thomas Dunne Books. 

 

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Sulimirski, T (1985). "Chapter 4: The Scyths". In Gershevitch, Ilya. The Cambridge History of Iran. 2. Azargoshnasp.net. pp. 149–99

 

Szemerényi, Oswald (1980). Four old Iranian ethnic names: Scythian – Skudra – Sogdian – Saka (PDF). Veröffentlichungen der iranischen Kommission Band 9. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften; azargoshnap.net.

 

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