Nephite/Hopewell Fortifications

 

The Hopewell civilization who are most likely the Nephites stated in the Book of Mormon, built fortifications in the same way as described in the Book of Mormon.

Alma 50:1
1 And now it came to pass that Moroni ... he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
Alma 49:4
4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.

Hopewell reconstructed village with earthen mound around their village.

Alma 49:22
22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.

Remains of a Hopewell ditch that were built around their cities

 Hopewell Nephite timber stockade

Alma 50:2-3
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.


Description of the Hopewell Pollock Stockade

“It consists of a series of earthen embankments ranging from three to ten feet in height that partially enclose a large, 120-acre, plateau located along Massie Creek.
“Robert Riordan, an archaeologist with Wright State University, has directed many seasons of excavations at the Pollock Works revealing a complicated site history. The works appear to have been constructed in five major stages beginning as early as AD 50. One of these stages involved the erection of a large, timber stockade along the top of the earthen embankments.”

Reconstructed Hopewell Timber Stockade.

Hopewell Nephite tower fortification

Alma 50:4

4 And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.

I could not find a full reconstruction of a Hopewell Indian fortification but did find a reconstructed stockade at Angel Mounds. This stockade dates past the Book of Mormon and Hopewell timeline to 1100AD-1450AD. But the towers and timber stockade as described in the Book of Mormon can be seen.

Eventually the building of fortifications in this style completely died out. 

Angel Mounds

  

For more Hopewell Nephite ties see links.

 Hopewell Breastplates

Hopewell Clothing

Hopewell meteoric iron axes and tools

Nephite Hopewell Mik Maq old world rites and rituals

Hopewell Smelting

 

Book of Mormon Goats and Cattle

Goats

An indigenous species of goat the Harington goat lived on the American continent but went extinct with the other 25 animals. I believe that the Clovis people (Nephites and Lamanites) caused its extinction.

Enos 1:21

21 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi did till the land, and  raise all manner of grain, and of fruit, and flocks of herds, and flocks of all manner of cattle of every kind, and goats, and wild goats, and also many horses.

Below is a Hopewell goat horn copper artifact. The Hopewell civilzation is considered to be the Nephite civilzation of North American models. They have many matching artifacts to include metal breastplates, headplates, jewelery, iron tools, and woven cloth. There traditional lands also included the Hill Cumorah during Book of Mormon times.

 

Cattle

Book of Mormon mentions cattle which is a criticism for the Book of Mormon saying there is no proof. It’s a known fact that three species of cattle (Bison latifrons, Ovibos cavifrons, Bison antiquus,) roamed what is now Hopewell Indian lands.  It’s believed that the Clovis people caused the extinction of these animals but the current theories of the Clovis people are put into question with the given archeological, linguistic, cultural and DNA evidence of the Book of Mormon

“But specimens (Ovibos cavifrons) of this species have been excavated in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia; suggesting the southern limits of its range probably extended into the Georgia piedmont.”

https://markgelbart.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/were-there-three-species-of-bovine-roaming-southeastern-north-america-during-the-late-pleistocene/

See link for horses

 

 

Native American Freemasonry and the Temple

One of the criticisms against Mormonism are the similarities the LDS endowment ceremony has to freemasonry.  In usual fashion when criticisms of the Book of Mormon are made, when more knowledge and understanding comes forth what was once a poignant criticism turns around to be a point of truth. No different is the criticism of the freemasonry and the endowment critique. The critique in my opinion is the greatest historical evidence for the truthfulness of the historicity of the Book of Mormon.

It turns out that Native Americans have been practicing freemasonry for hundreds of years. Freemasons have been fascinated by this and wrote several books trying to explain Native American practice of freemasonry. But first before we dive into the examples it helps to have a basic understanding of Freemasonry. Freemasonry is supposed to date back to when Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians. Being enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years until Moses sent them free. The enslaved Hebrews helped build some of the stone ruins of Egypt.

The Hebrews became excellent stone masons. They the stone masons could differentiate between those who were average to those who were excellent stone masons in several different ways. In other words, these stone masons became the worlds first trade union. It became a exclusive membership for only stone masons .

The Hebrews were freed from bondage and could start to build their own cities and temples but not anyone could work on the stone structures or temples you had to be a part of the trade union or freemasonry. But how could you tell the difference between a regular mason versus a Freemason. Freemasons had a special way that a freemason could prove to another freemason that their claims were true. This practice is still used today by freemasonry. Now lets move on.

For those who have received their endowments or are freemasons one will see similarities in the examples of Native American freemasonry.

The earliest example of freemasonry principles are the Mik Maq Indians who also have an account of Christ visit.

The mik maq Indians held sacred signs and tokens on their “garments” and skin. These tokens were a distinguishing feature for them. So much so the tokens were buried with them. They could show to their ancestors these tokens, the only way their ancestors could recognize them as being a part of their tribe or the cross bearers. This community of Mik Maq Indians held the cross as sacred. Its not a evangelical cross but a Greek style cross held sacred for centuries by many native American civilizations to include pre-Columbian tribes such as the Hopewell. For this being one of many reasons Father Chretian Le Clercq believed that these Indians once knew of the Christian gospel. These account date to 1680 in New Relations of Gaspesia pg34, 86.

Many people of an older generation can remember watching cowboy and Indian movies. One particular scene in many of these movies is the Native American greeting hello. An Apache particularly common in these movies will raise his right arm to the square and say “how”. This particular gesture has a lot of meaning in LDS sacrament meetings in freemasonry and in other places. Other greetings used particularly by the Great Lake Indians is a gesture that also has a lot of significance. If you were to establish a close relationship with these tribes, you would be given a token to show a such a friendship was made. See depiction below but pay attention to the left and right hands. In this display you could show to this tribe you are one of them.

See examples of freemasons fascination of Native American freemasonry and other examples.

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Native-American-Freemasonry,674870.aspx

“FREEMASONRY AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN”, by William R. Denslow

“INDIAN MASONRY”,  by Robert C. Wright

A SHARED SPIRIT”  - Freemasonry and the Native American Tradition  -- by Robert G. Davis and Jim Tresner

FREEMASONRY AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS” by W. Bro. Dennis V. Chorenky. 

The Ceremony of Red Hand Practiced by the Iroquois (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, or Mohawk) in their long houses or temple.

The proceedings began with 4 raps at the door.  The candidate was brought in and listened to the story of Red Hand, the ancient leader. As in the Hiramic legend the candidate assumes the identity of the object of the story.

Red Hand was a young Chief who received certain mysterious knowledge from the Creator of All.  He was kind and generous and loved by all.

One day in battle a poisoned arrow felled him.  The enemy Indian rushed upon him demanding the secret of his power ( Hiram Abiff) or his life. Red Hand refused to divulge the secrets so he was scalped.

A lone wolf came upon the body and howled so loud he brought all the animals from the forest.  They each contributed a part of their bodies and revived the scalp which they put on Red Hand’s head.  They formed a circle around him at signs of life and chanted.  Red Hand listened with his eyes closed when a voice asked him  these questions:

VOICE:  “Hast thou cleansed thyself from human guilt and impurity?”

RED HAND:  “ I have”.

VOICE:  “Hast thou ill will toward any of they fellow creatures?”

RED HAND:  “I have not”.

VOICE:  “Wilt thou trust and obey us, keeping thyself always chaste and valorous?”

RED HAND:  “I will”.

VOICE:  “Wilt thou hold this power with which we endow thee for thine own chosen company only?”

RED HAND:  “I will”.

VOICE:  “Wilt thou endure death or torture in its cause?”

RED HAND:  “I will”.

VOICE:  “”Wilt thou vow this secret never to be revealed save at thy death hour?’

RED HAND:  “I will”.

VOICE:  “They death hour will be revealed to thee; thou wilt be allowed to choose thy successor, and at the end of thy journey thou wilt be rewarded for faith and obedience.”(2)

The circle drew closer and the brother who is the bear touched the breast of Red Hand.  All stood erect.  The bear grasped the hand of the leader who was to be raised thought slain, and by a strong grip pulled Red Hand to his feet

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/native_american_rituals.htm