“Mysterious Ancient Scroll Discovered in Greenbrier County”
Lewisburg residents were left in awe this past week as word spread of a most curious find along the banks of the Greenbrier River. Local fisherman Jasper Whitmore, known for his keen eye and tall tales, stumbled upon what he claims to be an “ancient scroll of untold wisdom” buried beneath the roots of an old oak tree.
Whitmore, a man not known for scholarly pursuits, recounted his discovery to the Gazette with wide-eyed enthusiasm. “I was settin’ there, mindin’ my fishin’, when I seen somethin’ pokin’ outta the dirt. At first, I thought it was just an old rock, but then I wiped it off and saw these strange marks! Never seen nothin’ like it in all my days,” he said.
The object in question is an unusual slab of stone, roughly the size of a hearth brick, etched with what appears to be three distinct forms of writing. Scholars from the Lewisburg Academy have taken a keen interest in the artifact, suggesting it bears striking resemblance to the famed Rosetta Stone discovered in Egypt nearly a century ago. However, instead of ancient Greek and Egyptian, the engravings feature what one Professor Elias Rutherford describes as “a peculiar blend of runes, pictographs, and an unknown alphabet that defies immediate translation.”
“It could be the work of an ancient Appalachian tribe,” Rutherford speculated, “or perhaps something even older. There are whispers among the local folk of small folk living deep in the woods—gnomes, they call ’em. Of course, such notions belong in the realm of children’s tales and folklore.”
Despite the skepticism of the learned men, the discovery has sparked fervent debate among the townspeople. Miss Eleanor Brightwell, the librarian at the Lewisburg Public Library, claims the markings bear a striking resemblance to symbols found in an old collection of regional folklore. “There are legends of woodland folk who built great hidden communities long before settlers arrived,” she remarked. “Could this be evidence of their existence?”
Not all are convinced. Sheriff James Caldwell dismissed the excitement with a hearty laugh. “Fellas, it’s probably just some old rock with funny scratches on it. Let’s not go diggin’ up gnome tales now. We’ve got enough to worry about with spring floods comin’.”
Nonetheless, Whitmore remains steadfast in his belief that the stone is something truly special. “Mark my words, folks’ll be talkin’ about this long after we’re all gone,” he declared.
As the artifact remains under careful study, speculation continues to swirl. Could it truly be a relic of an ancient gnome civilization, or merely an elaborate hoax? Only time will tell. In the meantime, the mysterious scroll remains on display at Rutherford’s study, drawing curious eyes from near and far.
Stay tuned to The Greenbrier Gazette for further updates on this remarkable discovery!