Let’s Make Things Clear – Part II

 Continued from the previous post regarding several comments made by a reader of this blog and our responses. Continuing below with the question regarding Nephite building materials.

As for the use of wood by the Nephites as a supplemental product used with stone, even Solomon’s stone-built temple had wood beams brought from the land of Lebanon, and wood paneling (though all was later covered in gold). However, the idea that the Nephites built only with wood is inaccurate, for they built much with stone as Mormon informs us. After all, the Nephites were Hebrews with 500 years of culture behind them when Lehi arrived in the Land of Promise. The land from which they came was all built of stone (though wood was also used as mentioned previously). Lehi’s house outside Jerusalem would have been built with stone, as all houses were in and around Jerusalem, as well as other cities. In Andean Peru there are hundreds of cities made up stone or brick as they were at Jerusalem. In Andean Peru, including Ecuador (Land Northward) there are numerous evidences of ancient ruins of cement use. It should be kept in mind that the only mention of timber, besides the Land Northward, has to do with defensive walls—there is no mention of building with wood anything else in the Land Southward.

One of the types of Nephi fort walls Mormon describes is made of wood 

 

“Yea, he [Moroni] had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma 48:8, emphasis added).

It should be noted that some of the forts Moroni built had earthen pits outside the wall with the excess dirt piled high forming a narrow embankment with wood walls on top of dirt (Alma 50:1-5).

However, it should also be noted that Moron built stone walls all around the cities throughout all the land. Regarding Moroni, Mormon states he: “had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma 48:8, emphasis added). This tells us that:

1. Moroni built small forts out of stone

2. Moroni built walls of stone around cities

3. Moroni built walls of stone all around the land

Since “stone” is the only material mentioned in this quote, “stone” has to be the material for all that was built, including the small forts or resorts. In addition, nowhere doe we find that the Nephites built houses completely out of wood.

Comment: #5: “There came a time when every Nephite city had the appearance of a fort, and then the casual visitor would have had a hard time telling whether he was in the Old World or the New, for the fortecations of the Nephites seem to have resembled those of Europe and the Near East (Christopher Hawkes, “Hill-Forts,” Antiquity vol.5, Cambridge University, 1931, pp60-97). 

Interestingly, Hillforts in Europe do not mean they are on a hill, as this hillfort in Dinas Dinlle in Gwynedd, Wales, shows

Response: Despite the sourced work regarding a uniform type of fort in Europe and the Middle East, early forts in Europe—Europe did not broadly use stone for their forts until around 1000 AD—and most of Asia, were made of wood, while early forts in the Middle East were made of stone or brick from BC times. Wood forts, usually made of timber poles, sharpened at the top, were easily penetrated at night when guards were minimally placed and vision restricted. Today, forts maybe similar and easily mistaken because of their similarity, but not around Nephite times.

In addition, building with wood and clay or wattle, was the mode of the ancient Britons. They did not begin to use stone in until about 670 AD. Houses were constructed during Roman times, around 886 AD, with public buildings constructed out of brick, as well as stone, but dwelling houses were made of wood until around 1600 AD (Thomas Tegg, “Tegg’s Dictionary of Chronology,” Historical and Statistical Register, 5^th edition, William Tegg and Co., McCorquodale and Co. Printers, London, 1854, p104).

Comment #6: “Are there any South American tribes that used timber for houses or buildings and temples?”

Top: Roofless Machu Picchu shows how the stones remained unchanged, while the entire roof of each house deteriorated long ago; Bottom: The same is seen for these ancient grain storage buildings in Peru

 

Response: Actually, there is no record of any South American building that did not use wood for one reason or another. Most notably, for ceiling beams and roof structure—without these, no house could have been built, but also for door casing, railings, and wall coverings.

Timber was plentiful in Andean South America and no doubt many of the early more industrious tribes (Lamanites) used wood, but those from the Levant (Israel) would have been more inclined to use stone since that is what they knew in the land from which they came.

Comment #7: “Do you have any proof that ancient people of South America wore armor made of copper?”

Response: Most early warriors wore cotton armor. The padded cloth could absorb the blows of bludgeoning weapons and often provide protection against the penetrating power of the edged and pointed weapons they faced in their wars of combat. It was also helpful in absorbing the impact of a warak’a—the deadly sling that was prevalent in Andean Peru, which was made of wool, with a stone the size of an egg placed in the center then whirled around the head and let go toward the intended target—a most effective weapon in the hands of an experienced warrior.

Cotton armor was no match for steel blades of the Spanish; nor would it have been a match for the blades of the Nephites—the reason they were so afraid of it

 

Centuries later, when the conquistadors arrived, this cotton armor proved no use at all against sharp Spanish blades that slashed through it, or Arquebus bullets and crossbow quarrels which punched holes in this protection, easily killing the one wearing it. Following the padded cotton period, copper breast plates, helmets and arm bands, came into use—followed quickly by back-plates, which made up the cuirass.

What the Nephite armor Moroni provided for his army was made of is not specifically stated, whether it was cotton or metal—such as copper or the more effective bronze. As Mormon states: “When the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing” (Alma 43:19, emphasis added). Mormon also stated that occasionally, “a man fell among the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their arm-shields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites” (Alma 43:38).

However, the value of this armor did not protect all of the Nephites, for when they fought against Lamanites who were dedicated toward victory, the Lamanites, ”did smite in two, many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger” (Alma 43:44).

These passages suggest that the Nephite armor was more of the thick cotton than metal. While this is unknown, it cannot be said that the Nephite armor was definitely made of copper—especially since the Nephites new for hundreds of years about of brass, iron, and steel (2 Nephi 5:15, emphasis added). Thus, the copper breastplates, head-plates, and arm-plates found in North America (most of a much later period than the Nephites) are no verification of Nephite usage or occupancy.

(See the next post for more on the controversy over wood houses as opposed to stone housing)