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Show Newly Formed Archaeologist Foundation Plans Book of Mormon Lands Exploration One of the most significant developments to take place in Book of Mormon annals, is the recent organization of the New World Archaeological Foundation. Founda-tion. The NWAF is incorporated under the laws of California for the purpose of archaeological research re-search in Central America and Mexico where the earliest high civilizations of the western hemisphere hem-isphere have been found. It is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of Americans who will constitute its board of directors. di-rectors. The Foundation will conduct con-duct explorations and excavations excava-tions on a major scale in Mexico and Central America, using the talents of world-famed scholars and scientists. jh r-ni(ir.nt of the organization, organiza-tion, Thomas Stuart Ferguson, attorney of Oakland, Calif., is coauthor co-author of the recent book, "Ancient "An-cient America and the Book of Mormon". Five of the most notable nota-ble archaeologists of America are giving their full cooperation to the foundation. A Foundation exiedition left Mexico City Nov. 2!) and is now at work clearing forest and jungle jun-gle trails leading to some buried cities in southern-most Mexico. The cities have never before been excavated or explored. Expedition Expedi-tion personnel includes the Field Director, Prof. Pedro Armillas, Assistant As-sistant Director William John Sanders of Harvard university, and two archaeologists from Brigham Young university, John Sorensen and Caret h Lowe. Extensive Ex-tensive excavations will be commenced com-menced shortly after the first of the New Year. The Foundation is a privately undertaken, fact-finding institution. institu-tion. It is non-sectarian. A number num-ber of Latter-day Saints are interested in-terested in the organization and much of the support for the organization or-ganization is coming from Mormon Mor-mon people. As possessors of, and believers in the Book of Mormon, Mor-mon, Latter-day Saints have a keen interest in the great civilization civili-zation of Ancient America. The Mexican Government has granted the NWAF a large territory ter-ritory in southern-most Mexico, where many ancient cities are known to be buried. This region is of greatest importance. To quote the distinguished vice president of the organization, Dr. Alfred V. Kidder, "the region has all the earmarks of being the most important archaeological zone in the entire New World. It appears to hold the keys that will unlock the door of the origin ori-gin enigmas. The locale in question ques-tion is rich from the archaeological archaeolo-gical point of view." It is the opinion of the organizers organ-izers of the Foundation who are Mormons that the excavations being undertaken will sustain the truth of the Book of Mornson. It is believed that there is a good possibility that evidence such as modified Egyptian or modified Hebrew scripts will be found on stone, pottery or metal. President Ferguson states that it is certain cer-tain that many highly interesting interest-ing pieces will be found which will be of greatest Interest to Latter-day Saints. He is of the opinion that evidence sustaining the Book of Mormon may prove of great worth in resisting the advance of the Godless communist commun-ist leaders working behind the Iron Curtain. He is of the opinion opin-ion that science and religion meet squarely in the field of Book of Mormon research, and that one will sustain the other. |
