Experts have unearthed the truth behind these ancient tribal inscriptions



Experts have unearthed the truth behind these ancient tribal inscriptions

Although most of us hate to leave questions unanswered, there are still so many answers left to uncover in this world. How did the Ancient Egyptians build their pyramids? Is there a parallel universe? Is the universe finite or infinite? While there’s a high chance that we might never be able to answer these questions, experts have been able to unearth various secrets over the years. Many have devoted their whole lives and careers to answering these seemingly unanswerable questions, and there are others who have put themselves in the shoes of others to come to their conclusions.
For the most part, these answers can only be achieved when you look much deeper. Sometimes scratching the surface just doesn’t give you the information or the perspective you need to truly understand what’s going on and why it’s happening. One group of experts found this out for themselves when they unearthed the secrets of these mysterious tribal inscriptions. What was once a looming question has since become an intriguing answer that many weren’t expecting…

A big question


Nowadays, the world is divided. There are many people who see graffiti as vandalism, while there are others who see it as a work of art and self-expression. This hasn’t always been the case, though.

Before paper and pens, ancient civilizations would write and paint on walls to tell their stories and depict their lives. We have been able to decipher many of these inscriptions, but these ones were tough to crack.


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Deciphering civilizations


Humans have long been fascinated by history and ancient civilizations, but as we have progressed with our modern life, we have become removed from these people. Thankfully, experts are still able to decipher inscriptions from the era of Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks alike.

These inscriptions have taught us a huge amount about the history of the world and brought to life some of the most prolific events to ever occur on this earth. They have taught us about the fall of Pompeii and even helped us translate Egyptian hieroglyphs to understand more about ancient life and societies.
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A peculiar cave


In 2006, a photographer stumbled across peculiar inscriptions within the Manitou Cave in Alabama. He immediately brought them to the attention of history experts in the hope that they would be able to translate them and understand what they meant.

However, it wasn’t quite as simple as that. It took experts a whopping ten years to finally understand and decipher what these markings meant, but it’s safe to say that all of the hard work was worth it. Thanks to the time and dedication of the expert team, we can now understand more than we have ever known about the Cherokee people.


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The life of a Cherokee


If you’re familiar with the history of the United States of America, then you may also be familiar with the Cherokee. It’s believed that there are around 300,000 members of the Cherokee Nation today, and back in 1650, there were around 22,000 members.

These indigenous tribes lived all across the Appalachian Mountains during this time, but reports suggest that the first record of the Cherokee people can actually be traced to the mid-16th Century when Spanish explorers first laid eyes on them. These explorers noted that the Cherokee people grew their own crops, and wielded their own tools.
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Changing lifestyle


These Native Americans lived peaceful and self-providing lifestyles for many years without any interruption, but things soon began to change as British colonists made their way across the pond. By the time the 18th Century came around, these people lost their homes, their livelihoods were destroyed, and many Cherokee people perished in the process.

Despite this, the Cherokee did often work alongside the colonists during the American Revolution. They fought with them, they looked after them, and they even began to adopt certain European traits and technology. Before too long, they were using new farming techniques and dressing differently.
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Not perfect


For a while, the Cherokee lived harmoniously alongside their colonizers, but it wouldn’t last. When gold was found on the land of many Cherokee tribes, prospectors soon made it their mission to dig for the gold – no matter the cost.

In 1830, this was taken to a whole new level when a bill was passed through Congress that allowed the removal of the Cherokee tribes against their will. Thus began the Trail of Tears.
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Settling elsewhere


After being forced from their homes, the remaining Cherokee people packed up their belongings and walked with their tribes across thousands of miles. Their aim was to settle elsewhere, away from those who wanted to expel them from their homes.
Settling elsewhere

The journey was not easy, and it’s believed that around 4,000 Native Americans lost their lives. Those that survived soon found themselves in new homes across the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Alabama.
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Life in Alabama


A huge number of the Cherokee called Alabama their home, and they spread across the state during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The men and women split up their time, with the men tending to the crops, and the women weaving homes and household items while completing the domestic chores.
Life in Alabama

A huge number of Native Americans in Alabama found themselves in the town of Willstown. Now, it’s known as Fort Payne.
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Nestled in the forest


Located in Fort Payne is the Manitou Cave. It can be found nestled in the forest, within the beautiful mountains, and has since become a popular tourist attraction. The grotto of this cave has been noted to reach around 50-foot tall, and it’s long been associated with the Cherokee people who lived in the nearby town.

In fact, it’s been suggested that the Cherokee people used this cave as a popular meeting place.
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Coming to the conclusion


Experts have come to this conclusion after a photographer by the name of Alan Cressler discovered inscriptions carved within the walls of the Manitou Cave.

Because this cave has been open to the public for many years, many people began to suggest that these carvings were just pieces of graffiti left by visitors who wanted to see the grotto for themselves. However, historian Marion O. Smith thought differently.
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A different language


When the experts began to suggest that the inscriptions could be traced back to the Cherokee people, they began to inspect the letters with an eagle eye. What once looked like English letters soon proved to be something else entirely, as the experts confirmed that inscriptions were written in Cherokee syllabary.

This language first came into existence in the 19th Century and soon became a staple in Cherokee life.
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Similarities between the two


Of course, there was a reason why the experts became a little confused. The man who invented the Cherokee syllabary was a Cherokee native by the name of Sequoyah.
Similarities between the two

While fighting alongside the US Army, the scholar decided to create a written language that would allow both Cherokee and Americans alike to communicate with each other. He took inspiration from the English alphabet, which is why they are so similar.
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Increasing literacy rates


Four years after Sequoyah completed the Cherokee syllabary, it was made an official language by those in charge. It was this decision that transformed the life of the Cherokee forever.
Increasing literacy rates

Increasing literacy rates swept across the tribes, and the Cherokee people soon used the language to communicate with each other but to also communicate in secret when surrounded by those outside of the tribes. Almost every member of the Cherokee group could read and write.
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Passing it down


It didn’t take long for the Cherokee language to sweep across those within the indigenous group, but reports suggest that Sequoyah’s children received an extra special education.

The scholar taught them personally, and they were reportedly some of the most literate people within the Cherokee tribes. In fact, experts within the Manitou Cave noted that one of the inscriptions featured a signature that could be traced back to one of Sequoyah’s sons.
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Walking past it


As the experts dug deep and researched these strange inscriptions, they noted that people had passed them by for years without truly understanding their significance. After all, they just looked like any other inscriptions that could be found across the world – both ancient and modern.

However, the reality of these inscriptions was that they uncovered unknown secrets and information about the Cherokee people that we did not know before.
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Not giving in


In fact, many of the inscriptions within the cave alerted the experts to a change in Cherokee life. When they were written, the traditional Cherokee way of life was under threat from federal officials and missionaries.

However, experts soon discovered that many of the tribespeople weren’t going to give up their traditional ways without a fight. They wanted to continue living out their authentic lives and honor their ancestors.
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Traditional sport


The inscriptions in the cave are very specific, and one of them opened up the experts’ eyes to a traditional Cherokee sport. When they read the inscription of: “ᎠᏂᏴᎵᏘ Ꮖ Ꮑ Ꭱ Ꮶ 1828 Ꭻ Ꮻ Ꮒ Ꭷ Ꮈ Ꭴ Ꭷ Ꮒ 30 Ꭱ Ꭶ,” they realized that the Cherokee tribespeople once engaged in a game of stickball.
Traditional sport

That’s because they were able to translate this syllabary and learn that they were talking about the leading team.
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A game of stickball


So, what is stickball? This traditional Cherokee sport was very similar to the game of Lacrosse many people know and love today. They used sticks and animal skin balls to score goals, but it was perhaps a little more violent than the games we play today.
A game of stickball

Old Cherokee paintings showcase bloodshed and physical violence within this game, which is why it was called the “little brother of war.”
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Getting themselves ready


To prepare themselves for the violent game, many Cherokee players would make their way into nearby caves to psych themselves up. They would get their blood pumping, they would mentally prepare themselves for the physical exhaustion, and they would even purify themselves in the presence of a spiritual healer.

They would do this using water and smoke, and there’s a high chance this ritual took place within the Manitou Cave.
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Taking a break


Another inscription found within the Manitou Cave reads as: “Ꮧ Ꮍ Ꮿ Ꮑ Ꮝ Ꭶ Ꮼ Ꮧ Ꭶ Ꮀ Ꮲ Ꭹ.” This has been loosely translated to showcase that the men would have blood rush from their mouths and noses.

According to experts, Cherokee stickball players would make their way into the cave during half-time to give their “powerful liquid,” or blood, to a safe space, away from the natural world and any disruption.
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A form of communication


However, the inscriptions don’t end there. Another translation found within the cave reportedly noted that “ I am your grandson.” The Cherokee people are long-held believers in spirits and especially the spirits of their ancestors.

By inscribing their names and their words within the cave, they were able to communicate with those who had passed away. This form of communication could be found on both the walls and the ceiling of the cave.
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Aspects of life


What’s so amazing about these inscriptions and the discoveries in the cave is the fact that they were inscribed before our knowledge. While we do know a fair bit about Cherokee life, much of their traditional past is hidden.

What we know of the Cherokee people comes from colonizers and allies, rather than the Cherokee people themselves. Thankfully, these inscriptions give us a new insight that showcases new aspects of their life.
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Incredibly old


That’s because these inscriptions can be traced back around 200 years ago when these people were trying to maintain the traditions of their ancestors. They would try and communicate with the spirit world, and then they would play stickball for fun.

This was a huge discovery for the history world and one that has shed light on one of the most intriguing civilizations in the world. Hopefully, we’ll soon learn even more.