ARIZONA RELICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19201, 15 December 1925, Page 11

ARIZONA RELICS.

GENUINENESS IN DISPUTE. SCIENTISTS AT VARIANCE. A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Dec. 13. In the course of excavations near Tucson, Arizona, cast lead swords, a cross,' and other objects bearing Latin and Hebrew inscriptions have been found. A number of scientists have made investigations. The inscriptions, taken at their face value, are held to mean that Roman Jews crossed the Atlantic in the Dark Ages, penetrated into Arizona, and there founded a kingdom which lasted until about 760 A.D. The symbols include a cross and crescent, a sevenbranched candlestick, and certain Masoniclike representations. Scientists vary in their belief as to the authenticity of these relics. Professor Judd, curator of American archaeology, of the United States National Museum, expresses the belief that they are genuine. His opinion is confirmed by Professor Cuminings, archaeologist of the University of Arizona, who says the objects show Jewish and Christian influence. Dr. Dean, curator of arms and armour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, brands the objects as crude, childish forgeries. A combination of Christian, Moslem, Hebraic and Masonic symbols has, he says, imposed a heavy tax upon the credulity of the investigators. However, skilled archaeologists are puzzled, since the objects appear to have been imbedded in stone by natural processes.