The Burrows Cave Mystery

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most polarizing archaeological claims in the tri-state area: the Burrows Cave mystery. Back in April 1982, a highly decorated Korean War veteran named Russell Burrows was hiking through a quiet valley in southern Illinois near Olney when the ground gave way beneath him. What he fell into, according to his lifelong account, was far more than just a pit. Burrows claimed he had stumbled into a massive, man-made underground system filled with thousands of carved stone tablets, ancient weapons, and gold artifacts that pointed to pre-Columbian visitors from the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Mainstream archaeologists have largely dismissed the find as a hoax, largely because the exact location of the cave has never been publicly revealed or independently verified. Critics point to the bizarre hodgepodge of ancient scripts on the tablets, ranging from Egyptian-style hieroglyphs to ancient Greek symbols, as proof of a crude forgery. Believers counter that a mixed group of ancient refugees or traders would naturally leave behind a blend of cultural styles and varying skill levels in their carvings.

We also take a close look at the background of Russell Burrows himself. He served as a full colonel, earned two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts, and studied archaeology in college. For over forty years, he never once backed down from his story, even though he made very little money from the claim.

Later in the episode, you will hear audio clips from a interview conducted by researcher Brian Nettles, where an elderly Burrows speaks candidly about what he found, addresses accusations of fake artifacts, and reflects on the decades-long controversy.

Before jumping into the cave mystery, there is also an important update on the 2023 disappearance of Zachary Carey following the discovery of his remains near Lynnville, Indiana.

Links referenced in the episode:

GoFundMe for Zachary Carey - https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-gina-with-zacharys-burial-costs?attribution_id=sl:20099a5c-2e12-4f18-9038-9efe044288df&lang=en_US&ts=1763859567&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_td&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook

Brian Nettles' interview with Russell Burrows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMj8VfDXG5w&t=232s

Brian Nettle's Book of Mormon Heartland website - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/

Photos of Burrows Cave stones - https://bookofmormonheartland.com/burrows-cave-stones/

The Mystery Cave of Many Faces - https://burrowscave.io/books/the-mystery-cave-of-many-faces/

 

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