authentic ancient artifacts, but rather a creation of Scotford and Soper. The artifacts showed signs of modern tool marks and were made from materials not found in Michigan during prehistoric times. Additionally, the copper artifacts did not align with any known archaeological evidence of copper smelting in the area. Dr. Richard Stamps concluded that the artifacts were made by someone other than early pre-contact Native Americans.
The purpose behind Scotford and Soper’s creation of the artifacts was likely to make money. They sold the artifacts to collectors and convinced Father Savage to display them in his collection. Savage, unaware of the hoax, amassed a large collection of these fake artifacts.
To further investigate the authenticity of the artifacts, a clay tablet that was deciphered by David Diehl was subjected to thermoluminescence testing. The test, conducted by Dr. Carl Lippo at the University of Southern California, Long Beach, indicated that the tablet was manufactured in the late 1890s.
While this seems to close the story of the Michigan relics, there are still lingering doubts and controversies surrounding them. Some may argue that the technology used for thermoluminescence testing did not exist at the turn of the 20th century, leaving room for error. However, the weight of evidence suggests that the Michigan relics were indeed a hoax created by Scotford and Soper.
Soper Savage collection. It was a separate artifact that was discovered by David Diehl and brought attention to the collection. The authenticity of the collection still remains a contentious issue, with some believing it to be a hoax created by Scotford and Soper, while others argue that the artifacts are genuine historical relics. The use of thermoluminescence testing has provided some evidence supporting the genuineness of the artifacts, but there are still lingering doubts and further research is needed to definitively conclude the authenticity of the collection.
Wrapping Up
original collection of Michigan relics. It was reportedly discovered separately and was not connected to the artifacts created by Scotford and Soper. The tablet was found in an ancient burial mound in Bat Creek, Tennessee, and is believed to be a genuine artifact from the Cherokee civilization. Some archaeologists question the authenticity of the tablet, suggesting that it could be a forgery or misinterpreted, but others argue that it is a legitimate piece of history. The controversy surrounding the Michigan relics and the Bat Creek tablet remains unresolved, leaving the question of their authenticity open to interpretation.