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Question: Are the Michigan Artifacts evidence for the Book of Mormon?
Michigan Artifacts
The "Michigan Artifacts" or "Michigan relics" are a group of "artifacts" produced by hoaxers in the late 19th century and around the turn of the 20th Century from Michigan. They wanted to produce "proof" of the existence of the ancient civilization known in 19th century lore as the Mound Builders. Many contain scenes from biblical stories. Some LDS members have been misled into believing that the artifacts are genuine. Not surprisingly, advocates of the Michigan artifacts also push the Burrows Cave collection.
Both LDS and non-LDS scholars have repeatedly demonstrated the fraudulent nature of the Michigan artifacts.[1] Among the first to do so was James E. Talmage, a trained scientist who met some of the forgers, demonstrated evidence of the forgeries, and preserved accounts of these things in his journal.[2] Talmage recorded that the stepdaughter of the man who discovered the relics:
- ...solemnly declared to me that she positively knows her step-father, James Scotford, has made, buried, and dug up many of the articles reported to be genuine archaeological relics. She gave circumstantial details, and agreed to sign a written statement with the proviso that such statement shall not be made public without her consent during the lifetime of her mother, Mrs. Jas. Scotford.[3]
Also, in August of 1911, Elder Talmage published a document containing his evidence called "The 'Michigan Relics': A Story of Forgery and Deception."
The most recent assessment of the Michigan artifacts was performed by LDS scientist Richard Stamps, and reported in BYU Studies.[4]
==Notes
- [note] Francis W. Kelsey, "Some Archaeological Forgeries from Michigan," American Anthropologist 10/8 (May 1908): 48–59; Francis W. Kelsy, "A Persistent Forgery," The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal 33/1 (1911): 26–31; Stephen D. Peet, "A 'Stamp' Table and Coin Found in a Michigan Mount," The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal 15 (September 1894): 313.
- [note] Frederick Starr, J.O. Kinnaman, and James E. Talmage, "The Michigan Archaeological Question Settled," The American Antiquairian and Oriental Journal 33, no. 3 (1911): 160–164.
- [note] James E. Talmage, journal, June 1921; cited in Mark Ashurst-McGee, "Mormonism's Encounter with the Michigan Relics," Brigham Young University Studies 40 no. 3 (2001), 187. (needs URL / links)
- [note] Richard B. Stamps, "Tools Leave Marks: Material Analysis of the Scotford-Soper-Savage Michigan Relics," Brigham Young University Studies 40 no. 3 (2001), 210–238. (needs URL / links)
Further reading
External links
- Mark Ashurst-McGee, "Mormonism's Encounter with the Michigan Relics," Brigham Young University Studies 40 no. 3 (2001), 187. (needs URL / links)
- Richard B. Stamps, "Tools Leave Marks: Material Analysis of the Scotford-Soper-Savage Michigan Relics," Brigham Young University Studies 40 no. 3 (2001), 210–238. (needs URL / links)
Printed material
- Francis W. Kelsey, "Some Archaeological Forgeries from Michigan," American Anthropologist 10/8 (May 1908): 48–59
- Francis W. Kels[e]y, "A Persistent Forgery," The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal 33/1 (1911): 26–31
- Stephen D. Peet, "A 'Stamp' Table and Coin Found in a Michigan Mount," The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal 15 (September 1894): 313.
- Frederick Starr, J.O. Kinnaman, and James E. Talmage, "The Michigan Archaeological Question Settled," The American Antiquairian and Oriental Journal 33, no. 3 (1911): 160–164.