The Red Bird Petroglyph

    One of the strangest rocks on display is found in Manchester Kentucky. For it is here that the Marked Rock is preserved and on display. Also known as the Red Bird Petroglyph, this rock bears numerous carvings like no other ever discovered in Kentucky. While we are all familiar with so-called turkey tracks and numerous other rock carvings none resemble the strange symbols left by someone ages ago.
    The Marked Rock has been studied by many and while some of the symbols clearly resemble samples of ancient scripts from different lands, no one can say for certain exactly what they mean.

     On display with the rock is an interpretive sign that offers samples claimed to be from ancient alphabets and amazingly do resemble extremely close the carvings on the rock. So why would such a variety of scripts, all now dead, be left on a large boulder in Clay County Kentucky?

    The boulder was actually brought to his present resting place in a city park along the banks of Plum Creek in the city of Manchester, Kentucky. Known from early pioneer days at its original site the rock was part of a rock shelter along the road side. It was a well known land mark until its unfortunate fall in a rock slide a number of years ago. A local citizen interested in preserving the amazing bit of prehistory enlisted help of a lot of folks and brought the massive stone to its present location.

    What do the markings represent? No one has ever figured that out for sure other than the speculation. Whether they truly represent ancient alphabets or the idle doodling natives, the answer will probably never been known. The rock is a wonder to see and certainly worth stopping by and seeing.

    A shelter and fence stand today protecting the Red Bird Petroglyph from the elements as well as vandals wishing to add their own graffiti to the rock. 

        So what do you think these strange markings mean? We'd love to hear your thoughts and theories on the strange rock located in Manchester, Ky. Leave your comments in the space below.

        Thanks for visiting and your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Just leave them in the box below. And why not join up and follow this blog. You will be notified when a new post is available. Just click on the follow button on the right side of this page. 

Ed Henson

Purchase book

Special Offer

    I really love doing this blog and would do it even if I were not trying to promote the sale of my book. And I know, some of you probably get tired of me always pitching to buy the book. But when you have a book out and believe it is a good one that is suitable for most readers one has to try to promote as much as possible. So, with that in mind I am offering two of these aqua clips (bottle carrier) free to anyone who purchases a book through my website edhensonbooks.com .  Just send me an email containing a copy of your purchase receipt and I will ship you two of these most unique items and pay for the shipping as well.

    The Aqua Clip is one the handiest things I've seen for carrying your water bottle around with you, hands free. This ingenious little clip snaps around the neck of most plastic bottles and slips down over your belt, waistband or whatever you wish to hang it on. And it stays secure. It is perfect for day hikes and your regular walks. I use it all the time for my trips out exploring our beautiful state and on my routine exercise walks at home.

     The Aqua Clip is made of durable black plastic and does have the Swift logo imprinted in silver (naturally.) The clip also serves as a bottle opener to remove those sometimes tough plastic tops. Just snap the holding ring on the bottle cap and lightly squeeze and the whole clip can be twisted providing extra leverage!
    I will send you two of these absolutely free of charge including postage when you send me a receipt of purchase of my book, Swift. Send a copy of your receipt of purchase through my website at this address:  swift@edhensonbooks.com. Just go to my website and click on the "buy now" button. This is a secure website so your purchase will be safely and professionally  handled. Though the book is available through many bookstores, Amazaon.com and Barnes and Noble, this offer is only good for purchases made directly through my website and publisher. 



                                                                                                     
Here is the email address to send your receipt of purchase: swift@edhensonbooks.com.

New Video

Father and son video interviewing at Cumberland Falls for this production

 Hey folks! Just a quick note that Ross and Mike Steely's new video Swift's Silver Mine- The Truth Behind the Myth is now available for viewing at http://vimeo.com/41731851. This is a great video interviewing a lot of different folks on the subject and offers a complete history of the legend.