In 1851, three settlers argued about the name of the town they were starting, each wanted the town named after himself. T. U. Wade and his family dug a well on their property and discovered a rock wall below the surface. That settled the argument. The settlers decided to name the town Rockwall because of the discovery. A controversy has thrived since. Some authorities have announced the wall is a natural stone formation, others have believed it was built by man, but no one has done a serious scientific study . . . until now.

John Lindsey has spent the last seven years conducting such a study, named The Quivira Project. He is now publishing a book with his findings and will present startling evidence to The Eclectic Viewpoint audience on October 22. He has chosen our group to launch the next step, to make the knowledge public.

In the August issue of The Forum (other images also available), we explained how the name of the project was chosen and covered highlights about the following:

1.   Several geological authorities have determined the walls are "clastic sand dikes," formed near fault lines. Such reports were given when it was assumed the Balcones Fault extended through Rockwall County. Later studies show there are no fault lines in Rockwall County.

2.   Natural stone formations like clastic sand dikes sometimes crack into apparent blocks due to earth movement. If so, the cracks are uniform as is the grain of the stone. Stones found in the wall are both at different grain directions, and they are laid overlapping just as a mason lays bricks.

3.   The stones have beveled edges, space and a mortar like material between them.

4.   The top of the wall at all outcropping found to date has a uniform elevation of 550 ft. above mean sea level. The ground elevation in the area is far from uniform. It is hills and valleys.

5.   The wall is an almost perfect rectangle about 4 miles by 7 miles. The exact dimensions of short to long have a mathematical relation known as "The Golden Section," about 1:1.6. This relationship has been found in other ancient cities. A small rectangle in the southwest corner is formed by intersecting walls. These dimensions also have that same ratio.

6.   As depth increases, the stones are larger.

7.   The stone itself is found nowhere else but in the wall, has not yet been identified by geologists, and is considerably denser than granite. The stone weighs 200 lbs./cu.ft — granite weighs 175 lbs./cu.ft.

8.   Ancient writing has been found engraved on a large slab.

During the flood at the end of the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago, the coast line of the Gulf of Mexico extended beyond Dallas. Almost all of Rockwall County was under water. Over a period of many years a layer of blue shale sediment formed on the ocean floor,  creating a strata of rock approximately thirty feet thick.

Extensive geological knowledge of the area places the bedrock fifty feet below the top, and thus the height of the wall is estimated. The blue shale layer has been found about ten feet below the top of the wall. This means that 12,000 years ago this structure was already ancient.

Lindsey has a plausible and very interesting theory of why the stones are bevelled. During the quarry process, a large block is drilled in two directions at right angles so the stones can be broken apart in the desired size and shape. The round hole made by drilling becomes a quarter round edge after the break.

The space between the stones is filled with a very fine sand which hardens after exposure, and is believed to be a mortar like material. The photo above, taken during an early excavation, shows the bevels and spaces. The photos below show stones believed carved in a tenon and mortise fashion, designed to handle lateral stress.

Four stones have been found transcribed with designs or pictographs on them. Perhaps coincidentally, an object very like a coin was found with similar transcriptions in a well boring near Lawn Ridge, Illinois, at a depth known to have been at the surface between 200,000 and 400,000 years ago. More facts like these are revealed in Lindsey's soon to be published book and will be presented at his lecture.

Others have made guesses and suggestions, but John Lindsey is the first person to actually put it all together and begin digging to the bottom. This earth is gradually releasing her secrets, thanks to the efforts of people like Lindsey.

This is a significant and history making event. It is the first public announcement of one of the most important archeological discoveries of this millennium.

The morning after the slide lecture, on Saturday, October 23, Lindsey will lead a field workshop to show more. Participants will be taken by bus to Rockwall, and we will drive most of the perimeter of the wall (see image in last month's article). Then, we will go to the excavation, where Lindsey and his helpers are now exposing the wall. We leave at 9:00 am and will return about 1:00 pm. Ice water and toilet facilities will be available at the site. Be sure to bring your camera for this exciting first public exposure of the dig.

Tickets are $20 for the Friday lecture (available only at the door except as explained below), $50 for the bus tour (available only by advance purchase), and $65 for both if purchased by Wednesday, October 20, 5:00 pm.

Advance purchase orders cannot be cancelled or changed. We offer this as a convenience for this unusual event, may make mistakes in all of the confusion, and incur expenses based on tickets sold. If any unsold bus seats remain, they will be offered Friday night, but no seats will be sold Saturday morning.

Also, there are no tickets. The names of those prepaid will be on a list. The excavation is on private property and only Lindsey's buses will be allowed.