Cave inscriptions dating back to the sixteenth century have been discovered in a cave on a small island in the Caribbean.
According to FoxNews.com, the inscriptions include both indigenous art and Christian inscriptions from European explorers.
The cave is almost half a mile long and contains nearly 250 indigenous markings, as well as around 30 European inscriptions. The cave is located on the island of Mona, in between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Christopher Columbus reportedly set foot on the island.
Archaeologists say the indigenous drawings were made by local peoples drawing on the cave with their fingers, while the European cave inscriptions include Bible verses in Latin and Spanish, as well as cross markings.
One inscription reads “God made many things.” Another says “may God forgive you.” Yet another appears to be an inscription of John 1:14 from the Bible which says, “And the Word was made flesh [and dwelt among us].”
Jago Cooper, a scientist from the British Museum and an author of the paper detailing the discovery, noted its significance:
“This research reveals a new perspective on the personal encounter between indigenous populations and the first generations of Europeans in the Americas.”
“This is a unique site that helps us to understand the origins of cultural identity in the Americas, the start of a process that continues right up to the modern day,” Cooper continued.
Publication date: July 21, 2016
