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T h e C h u r c h of Jesus C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y Saints Salt L a k e C i t y , U t a h 1967
GOLD PLATES J used Anciently I n the thousands of years of recorded history i n the w o r l d , ancient peoples have used various means of preserving their writings. Some have engraved their messages upon rock, such as the Rosetta Stone. Others m a r k e d up clay tablets w h i c h then were sun-baked. W r i t i n g s have been found upon wood, cloth, leather, and bark. Patterns have been woven into fabrics in some i n stances. Probably one of the best k n o w n methods of preserving records anciently has been through the use of papyrus. For m a n y years it was not k n o w n that ancient records were kept upon plates of metal. H o w e v e r , i n recent times archaeologists have discovered scores of instances w h e r e such metallic records were kept. Some were engraved beautifully upon gold a n d silver. Others were made upon copper, bronze a n d lead. T h e metal used for these records was beaten into thin plates of various sizes. Some times alloys were used w h i c h made the metal very h a r d and durable. T h e most recent such discovery was i n the D e a d Sea Scrolls, part of w h i c h consisted of two copper scrolls rolled up together. T h e text w a s inscribed so deeply upon them that it stood out i n relief on the back. O n e of the most important and interesting of a l l the discoveries of ancient metal records was that of the plates of E m p e r o r D a r i u s I of Persia (518 B . C . ) w h i c h were found sealed i n a box of stone and bearing a text i n three languages. T h e plates were of gold a n d silver.
Sargon, K i n g of A s s y r i a (722 B . C . ) repeats over and over i n his " A n n a l s " that he kept his records on plates of gold, silver, bronze, a n d lead. S u c h plates have been found i n m a n y parts of the w o r l d , including A m e r i c a and the O r i e n t . Detailed information on them may be found i n such books as Book of Mormon Message and Evidences, by D r . F r a n k l i n S. H a r r i s , Jr.; The Instructor for October, 1957, (published i n Salt L a k e C i t y ) and D r . H u g h N i b l e y ' s book, An Approach to the Book of Mormon. T h e accompanying pictures i n this folder show some of the notable discoveries of records engraved on metal plates. T h e s e are on exhibit i n various important museums of the w o r l d . I n a day w h e n such records were u n k n o w n , a n d vehemently denied by the best scholars, Joseph S m i t h w a s s h o w n the reposing place of a box of stones, cemented together, containing gold plates. O n these were engraved the abridged account of ancient peoples of the A m e r i c a n Continent. Because this was revealed to h i m by M o r o n i , the resurrected ancient author and custodian, his story was disbelieved, and his reputation maligned. T o d a y , archaeological discovery shows that both gold plates a n d stone boxes to contain them were used by ancient recorders of approximately the same period of time, from the same part of the w o r l d , as were the people described i n the gold plates deciphered by Joseph S m i t h .
M e t a l plates of gold a n d silver i n s c r i b e d d u r i n g the reign of D a r i u s I of P e r s i a (518 to 515 B . C . ) , sealed i n a box of stone c a r r y i n g a text i n three a n c i e n t languages.
Keith Garner of Menlo Park, California, holding one of two gold tablets excavated from the foundation walls of the Audience H a l l (the Apadana) of the palace of K i n g Darius the great. King of Persia (521-486 B . C . ' ) .
One of the gold tablets discovered i n the foundations of Audience H a l l (Apadana) of King Darius. Darius, i n commemoration of the building of his great palace at Persepolis, placed this (and seven other tablets, four gold and four silver) tablet i n the foundation. T h e engravings on the tablets describe the boundaries of his kingdom i n three types of cuneiform, Persian, Babylonian and Elamite. T h e inscriptions also express the thanks of Darius to Almighty God and his prayer that his royal hou.se w i l l be protected.
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One of four silver tablets placed b\ Darius in the foundations of his magniliccnt Audience H a l l when construction was commenced in ohS B . C . W o r k continued on the capital, Persepolis, for over fifty years, through the reigns of Darius I , Xerxes and Artaxerxes. Darius placed it gold tablet and a silver tablet i n each of four stone boxes, the four boxes being located in the four corners of the Audience H a l l of the palace.
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Gold tablet found i n I^eisia in 1961, dating to the time of Darius I I (Fourth century B . C . ) , covered with cuneiform engravings. T h i s tablet is about the size and thickness of the gold plates of the Book of Mormon, as described by Joseph Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;about six inches wide and eight inches long and about the thickness of common tin.
T h i n gold plates found i n prehistoric tomhs near T u q u e r r e s , F x u a d o r , the border of C o l o m b i a .
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G o l d plates h e l d by bearded m a n ( b e a r d of gold w i r e ) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a n c i e n t Mexico. T h i s gorget of cast gold w a s di.scovered o n the G u l f coast of M e x i c o at P a p a n t l a , i n the State of V e r a C r u z . D a t e u n k n o w n . P h o t o g r a p h e d by T h o m a s F e r g u s o n i n the N a t i o n a l M u s e u m of A n t h r o p o l o g y , M e x i c o C i t y . T h e object is a gorget about 10 centimeters h i g h , a n d c l e a r l y establishes the use of gold tablets i n a n c i e n t M e x i c o , a l t h o u g h no i n s c r i p t i o n s are o n the m i n i a t u r e tablets.
Old World Writing on Metal Plates Compiled by Frmiklin S. Hjrris, Jr.
Remarks
Ohiect and Material
Civilization, Place
Language and Script
1. 2. 3. 4.
Gold plate Goppcr plate Gold sheets Silver plates
Javanese Javanese
Javanese Kavi (old Javanese) Siamese Singhalese
Up to A.D. 1473 A.D. 1,300-1,500
5. 6. 7.
Copier plates Copi^er plate Many copper plates
Harappa, Pakistan Gorakpiir District. India Pakistan and India
Indus Valley script Indo-Aryan
3rd millennium B . C . 4th c-enturv B . C . A . D . 324
8. 9. 10.
Copiier plate Silver scroll Copper plate
Kalawan. Pakistan Taxila, Pakistan Malabar Coast of India
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Gold plate Copper plates Silver object Twenty gold leaves Gold plate Bronze Buddha Gold Aod silver tablets
India India India India India Persepolis, Iran
18. 19.
Gold tablet Silver tablet
Atio
Europe
India
Tamil characters
5th century A . D . 5th-7th centuries A.D. 6th-7th centuries A . D . 6th century A.D.
flamadan, Iran Hamadan, Iran
Pali-Maunggun Grantha script Mixed Pali-Pyu Pyu characters Pyu characters Sanskrit in Gupta characters Trilingual: Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian in cuneiform characters same text as 17 same text as 17
Iberian
5th centur>' B . C . to Roman times 2nd century B.C. 6th century B . C . 3rd century B . C .
20. 21.
Plate Lead, bronze, silver
Portugal Spain
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
Plates Lead tablet of Magliano Lead tablet of Volterra Gold plate of Tarquinia Agnone bronze tablet Bantia bronze tablet Bronze tablet Base of a bronze pillar
Roman Etruscan, Italy Etmsean, Italv Etruscan, Italv Italv Italy Italy Italy
39. 31. 32.
Bronze plate Bronze plates Bronze helmet
Italy Greece Greece
Utin Etruscan Etru.scan Etruscan Oscan Oscan Umbrian Trilingual: Latin, Greek and Phoenic Greek Greek Greek
Thin gold bar Gold plates
Eg>-ptian Egyptian
Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics?
isypt
33. 34.
A.D. 134 A . D . 136 Middle 1st millennium A . D .
Now in British Museum, London. King's letters to princes. 2 X 18 in.; Buddha's first sermon; now i n British .Museum. London. Example: the Kesarbeda plates are three on a ring, text is a royal charter records of relics in a shrine. 25 names in Arabic, Pahlavi and Hebrew characters. Buddhist scripture. Inscriptions of Pailava kings. Pali scripture. Darius 1, 13 in. square, two pairs found at .sepiirate corners of palace.
3rd century B . C . 2nd centurv B.C. Earlier than 500 B . C . 160-150 B . C .
Found in 1876. mining regulations. Treaties between Rome and Carthage. Inscribed both sides; now in Florence, Italy. Has about 80 words. Nine lines of text. Long list of local divinities. Local laws. Acts of a corporation of priests, 19.5 x 11.3 in. Found in Sardinia in 1860; now in Turin, Italy.
4th centurv B . C . 5th centurv B . C . 478 B . C .
Found at ancient Creek City of Thurii, Italy. Treaties between cities; now in Athens museum. Inscription presented to Jupiter Olympus by Hiero of Syracuse.
3000 B.C. 2800 B . C .
Inscription: "Menes" (the ruler). From tomb of Menkure, builder of the third piramid.
Old World Writing on Metal Plates O&fect and Egypt
Material
Civilization, Place
Language and Script
Time
Remarks
Egyptian Egypt Egypt Egypt Egyptian Egypt
Hieroglyphics Pseudo-hieroglyphic Egyptian Egyptian Demotic Creek
2000-1788 B . C .
Found at Lisht. Found by Maurice Dunand. Treaty between Egypt and Hittites. Decree of Barneses I I I . Chronicle inscribed on 13 plates. Inscription for temple dedication.
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35. Cold leaf 36. Lead 37. Silver tablet 38. Silver and gold tablets 39. Metal plates 411. Cold plate
1254 B.C. 1198-1167 B.C. After 4th century B . C . 242-222 B . C .
Matopolamia
41. 42. 43. 44.
Cold tablet Three copper tablets Copper Bronze inscription figure
Sumerian Sumerian (Iraq) Sumerian Assur { I r a q )
45. 46. 47.
Six bronze tablets Cold and silver plates Cold tablet
Byblos, Lebanon Assyrian Assyrian
48.
Bronze plates
Assyrian
49. 50.
Round silver plate Cold, silver, bronze. lead tablets Six bronze, one silver. one gold plates Lead plates Seven lead rolls Sih er, lead plates
51. 52. 53. 54.
Assyrian
3rd millennium B . C . 2900-2425 B . C . 2900-2425 B . C . Mid 3rd millennium B . C .
Cuneiform Hurrian language in cuneiform Pseudo-hieroglyphic
2000-1800 B . C . 883-858 B . C . 858-824 B . C .
Hittite and cuneiform
9th century B . C . 722-705 B . C .
858-824 B . C .
Assyrian
722-705 B . C .
Mesopotamia Assyrian Semitic
Mandeao (of Aramaic type) Hittite Late Hittite
7th-8th century A . D . 7th century B . C . (600 B . C . ? )
Ugarit cuneiform Hebrew Himyaritic
14th century B . C . I2th century B . C . eth-7th century B . C .
Found at Umma, modem Mesopotamia in 1937, Temple inscription of ancient Adab. Found. 1905, now in Metropolitan Museum, New York, and a similar one in the Louvre, Paris; temple dedication by Tisari, Idng of Urkis Urk. Found by Maurice Dunand in 1930s. Assurnasirpal I I . Foundation record of Shalmaneser I I I ; found at source of Tigris, Iraq. Found in 1876 at palace at Balawat; records campaigns of Shalmaneser I I I . Tarkondemos seal. Sargon I I . Found in foundations of Sargon II's palace in 1854.
Found in 1950 in Beritz valley.
P a b rtia* and Arabia, Turkoy
55. 56. 57.
Bronze tablet Copper or bronze plate Bronze tablets
Lower Galilee, Palestine Palestine South Arabia
58.
Tablets of brass
Palestine
59.
Copper scrolls
Dead Sea Caves, Palestine Palestine
60. 61.
Cold and silver plates Silver plates
62
Copper ph-tc
2nd century B . C . Hebrew Hebrew-Aramaic Arabic script
Maghreb ( N W Africa & Spain) Arabic
/
Middle of 1st century A . D . 200 A.D.
Religious inscriptions; some now in British Museum, London. Treaties of Romans with Jerusalem, letters from Spartans, Jewish events. Eight feet in length; religious writings. Two sheets. Part of Koran; now in Evkaf Museum, Istanbul, Turkey.
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