Today, I began writing again on Chapter Two of the third book which is set about the year 1000 AD. In the process, I renewed my acquaintance with Ogham Stones. There are about 400 of these standing stones mainly in Ireland but also in Wales and Scotland. Each of them have "hash" marks on them which, in various groupings, form an alphabet. It is not clear where writing in this style originated, but it is similar to the cipher Runes of Scandinavian origin.
Examples of these stones have been found in the US, most of them controversial. Of the Runic stones, the Kensington Stone 
found in Minnesota, is perhaps the most controversial since if it were proved to be Scandinavian in origin, the stone's presence in Minnesota would indicate that the Vikings had penetrated inland to the middle of the continent. So far, no credible archaeologist has supported the veracity of it, although the people of Kensington remain passionate supporters. It is housed in a Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota.
found in Minnesota, is perhaps the most controversial since if it were proved to be Scandinavian in origin, the stone's presence in Minnesota would indicate that the Vikings had penetrated inland to the middle of the continent. So far, no credible archaeologist has supported the veracity of it, although the people of Kensington remain passionate supporters. It is housed in a Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota.There are some stones carved by the pre-historic indigenous peoples in North America who were here for 
thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. One of several examples is the Gaitskill Tablet which was found in Gaitskill Mound near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky in 1920. Many have interpreted the image as a spider with the picture of a human on its back. This tablet has been identified as one produced by the Adena Culture, a woodland group that flourished in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois from 500BC - 500AD (more or less) and built huge earthworks and mounds.
thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. One of several examples is the Gaitskill Tablet which was found in Gaitskill Mound near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky in 1920. Many have interpreted the image as a spider with the picture of a human on its back. This tablet has been identified as one produced by the Adena Culture, a woodland group that flourished in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois from 500BC - 500AD (more or less) and built huge earthworks and mounds.Still in North America, more artwork on rocks can be found in the great
Southwest such as at Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico where there are more than 20,000 images and symbols carved into the rocks, probably created by the ancestor's of the Pueblo Indians. These images are more than art imitating nature, but rather represent powerful meanings to their creators who carefully oriented them.
With all of this, there was no written language left by the pre-historic peoples of North America -- at least not that has been found. Perhaps today with the proliferation of icons substituting for words, we may be migrating back to a day when symbols and images are more important than an alphabet and words.
Southwest such as at Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico where there are more than 20,000 images and symbols carved into the rocks, probably created by the ancestor's of the Pueblo Indians. These images are more than art imitating nature, but rather represent powerful meanings to their creators who carefully oriented them.With all of this, there was no written language left by the pre-historic peoples of North America -- at least not that has been found. Perhaps today with the proliferation of icons substituting for words, we may be migrating back to a day when symbols and images are more important than an alphabet and words.
“By phonemic trans-formation into visual terms, the alphabet became a universal, abstract, static container of meaningless sounds.”
~ Marshall McLuhan (1911 - 1980), Canadian Communications Theorist
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