The Paraiba Stone

Location:  Paraiba state of Brazil

Description:  According to the story associated with the Paraiba Stone, the stone was found in 1872 in the Brazilian state of Paraiba by a slave of Joaquim Alves de Costa.  The stone contained an inscription believed by some to be ancient Phoenician writing (Phoenica was an ancient civilization in the land of Canaan).  According to TimeMagazine, Professor Cyrus H. Gordon of Brandeis University “found that it contained nuances and quirks of Phoenician style that could not have been known to a 19th century forger.” [37]

The stone was translated by Professor Gordon as follows:

“We are Sidonian Canaanites from the city of the Mercantile King. We were cast up on this distant shore, a land of mountains. We sacrificed a youth to the celestial gods and goddesses in the nineteenth year of our mighty King Hiram and embarked from Ezion-geber into the Red Sea. We voyaged with ten ships and were at sea together for two years around Africa [Ham]. Then we were separated by the hand of Baal and were no longer with our companions. So we have come here, twelve men and three women, into New Shore. Am I, the Admiral, a man who would flee? Nay! May the celestial gods and goddesses favour us well!” [38]

A facsimile of the inscription can be found at the ULB Sachsen-Anhalt website.

Though not specifically associated with the Book of Mormon itself, this is another possible artifact that points to pre-Columbian travelers to the Americas from the East (like those in the Book of Mormon).