PUZZLING RELICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 December 1925, Page 5

PUZZLING RELICS

FOUND IN ARIZONA. JEWISH AND ROMAN SYMBOLS. THEORY OF ANCIENT KINGDOM.. BY CABLE —PEESS ASSOCIATION-COPYEIGHT. Received Dec. 14, 11.20 a.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 13. A message from Tucson, Arizona, states that after an investigation by a number of scientists an announceme .t was made that in the excavations near Tucson cast lead swords, a cross anc other objects tearing _ Latin anrl Hebrew inscriptions, which, taken ay, their face value, are held to mean that Roman Jews crossed the Atlantic in tne Dark Ages, penetrated to Arizona and founded a kingdom which lasted from about 760 A.D. to 900 A.D. The symbols include a cross, a crescent, a seven-branched candlestick, and certain masoniclike representations. Scientists opinions concerning their authenticity vary. Professor Judd, curator of the American Archaeology of the United States National Museum, expressed the belief that the relics were genuine. Hiy opinion was confirmed by Prof esso. Cummings, archaeologist to the Universitv of Arizona, who said the objects showed Jewish and Christian influence. Doctor Dean, curator of arms an I armour in the Metropolitan Museum of A rt at New York, branded the objects as crude and childish forgeries. The combination of Christian, Moslem. Hebraic and Masonic symbols has imposed a heavy tax upon the credibility of the investigations, but skilled archaeologists are puzzled, since the objects appear to be imbedded in stone through natural processes.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.