MALLERY.] THE DIGHTON ROCK. 763 
in “Antiquitates American,” by C. C. Rafn (e), presents the best 
account known concerning the Dighton rock and gives copies made 
from time to time of the inscription, which are here reproduced, Pl. Liv. 
The text is condensed as follows, but in quoting it the statement that 
the work was not done by the Indians is without approval. 
It is situated about 64 miles south of Taunton, on the east side of Taunton river, 
a few feet from the shore, and on the west side of Assonet neck, in the town of 
Berkley, county of Bristol, and commonwealth of Massachusetts; although probably 
from the fact of being generally visited from the opposite side of the river, which is 
in Dighton, it has always been known by the name of the Dighton Writing Rock. 
It faces northwest toward the bed of the river, and is covered by the water 2 or 3 
feet at the highest, and is left 10 or 12 feet from it at the lowest tides; it is also 
completely immersed twice in twenty-four hours. The rock does not occur in situ, 
but shows indubitable evidence of having occupied the spot where it now rests since 
the period of that great and extensive disruption which was followed by the trans- 
portation of immense bowlders to, anda deposit of them in, places at a vast distance 
from their original beds. It is a mass of well characterized, fine grained graywacke. 
Its true color, as exhibited by a fresh fracture, is 4 bluish gray. There is no rock in 
the immediate neighborhood that would at all answer as a substitute for the 
purpose for which the one bearing the inscription was selected, as they are aggre- 
gates of the large conglomerate variety. Its face, measured at the base is 11} 
feet, and in height it is a little rising 5 feet. The upper surface forms with the 
horizon an inclined plane of about 60 degrees. The whole of the face is covered to 
within a few inches of the ground with unknown hieroglyphics. There appears 
little or no method in the arrangement of them. The lines are from half an inch to 
an inch in width; and in depth, sometimes one-third of an inch, though generally 
very superticial. They were, inferring from the rounded elevations and intervening 
depressions, pecked in upon the rock and not chiseled or smoothly cut out. The 
marks of human power and manual labor are indelibly stamped uponit. No one 
who examines attentively the workmanship will believe it to have been done by 
the Indians. Moreover, it is a well attested fact that nowhere throughout our 
widespread domain is a single instance of their recording or having recorded their 
deeds or history on stone. 
“The committee also examined the various drawings that have been made of this 
inscription. ; 
“The first was made by Cotton Mather as early as 1712; and may be found in No. 
338, vol. 28, of the Philosophical Transactions, pp. 70 and 71; also in vol. 5, Jones’s 
abridgment, under article fourth. 
“Another was made by James Winthrop in 1788, a copy of which may be found in 
the Memoirs of the American Academy, vol. 2, part 2, p. 126. 
“Dr, Baylies and Mr. Goodwin made another drawing in 1790, a copy of which is 
inclosed. 
“Mr. E, A. Kendall in 1807 took another which may be found in the Memoirs of the 
American Academy, vol. 3, part 1, p. 165. 
‘And one has been more recently [1812] made by Mr. Job Gardner, a lithograph 
from which is also inclosed. 
“Dr, Isaac Greenwood exhibited a drawing of the inscription before the Society of 
Antiquarians of London bearing the date of 1730. The drawing by the Historical 
Society of Rhode Island bears the date of 1830. 
““We send you a copy of the inscription, as given on said representation of the rock, 
being what you probably desire; but having made an accurate drawing of the rock 
itself for your special use, we have not deemed it necessary to forward the one above 
referred to. We also send a copy of Judge Winthrop’s drawing contained in the same 
work, and of one taken by Stephen Sewell in 1768. 
