Lead Artifacts Currently on Display, Arizona History Museum, Tucson

In 1924 more than 24 lead artifacts were discovered along Silverbell Road in Tucson, Arizona.  The artifacts were thought to be from a lost Roman colony from the time 700-900 A.D.  A Roman colony had never been found in North America prior to 1924, or since.  The artifacts included crosses, swords, and religious paraphernalia.  They contained engraved Hebrew or Latin.  Pictures of temples, leaders, angels, and prehistoric diplodocus.  The site contained no other signs of a lost colony. 

• Discovery

The artifacts initial discovery of the artifacts we made by Charles E. Mainer.  He came across them while exploring the area, know to be rich in historical sites.  Lime kilns are still visible driving past in 2019.  It was at one of these kiln sites were Mainer discover the fist of the lead crosses.

Kiln Site, Silverbell and Sunset

• Location

Several kiln sites existed near SIlverbell road, a map was collected as part of the collection of artifacts by the Arizona History Museum.  The map details the surrounding areas where excavations have been completed.  These excavations continue to be preformed along the I-10 corridor.

The Tucson Artifacts were inscribed with Latin.  Professor Hank H. Fowler of the University of Arizona translated “Calalus” or unknow land from one of the earliest crosses unearthed.  They made mention of Rhoda, and Terra Incognita.

•  Latin- Translations from larger cross found by Manier, taken to

  • • We are carried North over the sea to Calalus and unknown land where

    • People were ruling widely

    • The Toltesus were lead over the wooded land.

    • Theodorus brings up his forces the city Rhodda and more than seven hundred are captured.

    • No gold shall be taken from the city.

    • Theodorus a man of great courage rules fourteen years.

    • James rules six years

    • With God’s help there is nothing to be afraid of.

    • In the name of Israel

    • James renews the city

    • With God’s help James rules with mighty hand in the manner of his ancestors.

    • Sing to the Lord

    • May his fame last forever.

• Hoax?

  • As immediate as the discovery from Mainer was unearthed the controversy on their validity began.  I war of newspaper headlines from the east coast declaring the artifacts a crude forgery.  Local newspapers and reports defending the artifacts as an attack against Tucson. 

  • The Latin inscriptions that had been translated locally were identified to be a match to known Latin text available in the 1920's in Tucson.  Bent in control of the land, kept scoopulas notes as each item was discovered.  Convinced of their authenticity he documented who was present, the discovery location with pictures and the date of the discovery. 

• External Resources
  • Books: The Tucson Artifacts: An Album of Photography with Transcriptions and Translations of the Medieval Latin 2nd Edition
    • https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692727086
  • Television
    • History Channel, America Unearthed.  Episode "The Desert Cross" originally aired February 22, 2013.
      • https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxs872
  • Other Print Materials
    • https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-oddity-ruins-of-old-lime-kiln-visible-along-silverbell/article_d3f148e0-562d-591c-b2ec-8ad6e93b52e9.html
• Artifacts Now
  • The complete collection of artifacts as well as numerous material from the Bent family was gifted to the Arizona History Museum.
  • Arizona History Museum: 949 E. 2nd St, Tucson, AZ. 85719  520-628-5774, Open M-F 10a-4p, Sat. 11a-4p.  General Admission is $10.