It is because they are real that I have included images of many of them within these pages—I want readers to see them with their own eyes, to be able to make at least a cursory judgment as to their age, origin and meaning. Are they authentic? Do they evidence ancient exploration of this continent? I hope readers will at least consider the possibility that they do.
Just as the artifacts displayed in this book are real, so too are the works of art. Again, I display these artworks because I want readers to perform their own analysis—what hidden message, if any, is the artist trying to convey? During medieval times, artists (such as Leonardo da Vinci) who had been initiated into the secret societies often communicated ancient knowledge considered blasphemous through their art. The expression “eyes that see” applies to those who knew how and where (including inside churches themselves) to look for these messages.
It is, then, these artifacts, sites and works of art that are the raw materials for this story. From them I have crafted a narrative that offers one plausible explanation for why they exist in the form they do. The key word here is ‘plausible’—to use an analogy from our system of jurisprudence, it is not essential that a fiction writer prove his or her case beyond a reasonable doubt. But the writer must present a credible, believable scenario. The writer cannot simply make things up, fabricating history to suit his or her needs. I am cognizant of that, and have made every effort to craft a story that is supported by the historical record (although I recognize that this record may sometimes be the work of alternative rather than mainstream historians). For inquisitive readers, perhaps curious about some of the specific historical assertions made and evidence presented in this story, I offer the following substantiation (in order of appearance in the story):
The Mustang Mountain Rune Stone is an actual artifact located outside a cave in the Mustang Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The translation offered in this novel is a rough translation of the translation made by runologist Michael Carr, allowing for a degree of poetic license to advance the plot.
The Tucson Lead Artifacts are housed at the Arizona Historical Society, Tucson, Arizona and are available for viewing by appointment. Geologist Scott F. Wolter offers an in-depth analysis of them (concluding they are authentic) in his book, Akhenaton to the Founding Fathers: Mysteries of the Hooked X (North Star, 2013).
For more information on the Los Lunas stone, see this site: http://www.mysteriousarizona.com.
Much of my information regarding the substance first discovered by David Hudson and known as white powder of gold, or mfkzt, comes from Laurence Gardner’s, Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark (Barnes and Noble, 2005). For a good summary of Gardner’s research, see this article written by Stephen Robbins: http://www.gold-eagle.com/article/mfkzt-new-dimension-value-gold.
For a discussion of the telepathic and hallucinogenic effects of ingesting white powder of gold, see http://www.halexandria.org/dward467.htm.
For references to the Philistines suffering from hemorrhoids after capturing the Ark of the Covenant, see 1 Samuel 5:6-12.
For the assertion that the inscription at the America’s Stonehenge site is ancient Punic that translates as, “To Baal of the Canaanites,” and dates back to roughly 1500 BC, see David Goudsward, Ancient Stone Sites of New England (McFarland & Co., 2006), at page 86.
The research connecting the America’s Stonehenge alignments to Stonehenge England and ancient Phoenicia has been conducted by Kelsey Stone, of the Stone family that owns the America’s Stonehenge site in New Hampshire.
To read about Sigmund Freud’s theory that Moses may have been the Pharaoh Akhenaten, see his book, Moses and Monotheism.
Regarding my assertion that Moses lived at Serabit el-Khadim while in exile, see Graham Hancock, The Sign and the Seal (Touchstone, 1992), at page 345. Hancock, in turn, relies on an Arab source who claims Moses spent as long as 25 years in the Sinai Peninsula. Hancock’s strongest argument for Moses being near Serabit el-Khadim is that the burning bush incident occurs at Mount Sinai (or perhaps Mount Horeb)—so Moses must indeed have been residing in the immediate vicinity (within 50 miles) of Serabit el-Khadim. Midian, where Moses is believed to have lived while in exile, is usually thought of as being located across the Gulf of Acaba from Sinai, but we are talking about an exile period of 40 years so it is possible Moses lived for a time in both places.
The In Hoc Signo Vinces stone is located in Newport, RI and is only visible at low tide. It is known to have existed since at least the 1930s. Concerned neighbors keep the stone covered with sand to prevent graffiti and vandalism.
For support for the assertion that the bound figure in the upside down carving at Rosslyn Chapel is Azazel rather than Lucifer, see this site at page 155: http://www.hermetics.org/pdf/alchemy/Alchemy_Key.pdf
Out of all this, then, comes a story that hopefully both educates and entertains. Were ancient explorers secretly visiting the southwestern United States? If so, were they doing so in hopes of discovering secrets of the sacred Ark of the Covenant? These are the questions that fascinate me. Hopefully you’ve found both some enlightenment and some entertainment in them as well.
PHOTO CREDITS
Images used in this book are either in the public domain and/or are provided courtesy of the following individuals (images listed in order of appearance in the story):
MUSTANG MOUNTAIN CAVE ENTRANCE, WINTER SOLSTICE SUN PATH PROJECTION
courtesy Bo Hakala
AMERICA’S STONEHENGE SUMMER SOLSTICE SUNRISE
courtesy America’s Stonehenge
AMERICA’S STONEHENGE SUMMER SOLSTICE SUNRISE ALIGNMENT IMAGES (multiple)
courtesy Renee Brody, based on alignments first identified by Kelsey Stone
NEWPORT TOWER EASTER LIGHTBOX
courtesy Jim Egan (multiple images)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I owe a special debt of gratitude to those who have assisted in my research (in alphabetical order): Renee Brody, Michael Carr, Jim Egan, Zena Halpern, Richard Lynch, Rick Osmon, Carol Pardee, Kelsey Stone, and Janet and Scott Wolter. I am grateful to you all.
I also want to thank my team of readers, those who slogged their way through early versions of the story and offered helpful, insightful comments: Lynn Keltz, Allie Brody, Spencer Brody, Tom Coffey, Jeff Brody and Michael Carr. And a special thanks to William D. Andrews, who undertook the tedious and at times Herculean task of proofreading the final manuscript.
For other authors out there looking to navigate their way through the publishing process, I can’t speak highly enough about Amy Collins and her team at New Shelves Distribution—real pros who know the business and are a pleasure to work with.
Lastly, to my wife, Kim: Thanks for your unending patience and support. To the extent any of my novels is a success, it is because of your keen eye and wise counsel.
Powdered Gold: Templars and the American Ark of the Covenant (Templars in America Series Book 3) Page 30