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All legends are born in truth…
In the year 310 B.C., as the fires of Carthage burned under the conquering onslaught of the Greeks led by Agathocles, a determined group of Phoenicians decided that survival lay not in the ashes of their fallen city but in the unexplored lands beyond the known world.
Loaded with precious scrolls, artifacts, and a trove of treasures, including the fabled Golden Osprey, the Phoenician survivors set sail on trireme ships from the ruins of Carthage. Their destination was the settlement they had established 200 years earlier in what is today North Salem, New Hampshire, where they hoped to rebuild and preserve the remnants of their culture.
As the weary fleet sailed westward, storms arose, and the unpredictable currents of the Atlantic Ocean drove them far from their intended course. The Phoenicians, battered but resolute, found themselves in uncharted waters. When the tempest finally subsided, they discovered the vast expanse of the Chesapeake Bay.
The journey, however, did not end there. With an adventurous spirit, the Phoenicians sailed further upstream, entering the Susquehanna River. The river, winding through untouched landscapes, became a beacon of hope for the weary travelers seeking refuge from the chaos of the Old World.
As the Phoenicians navigated the treacherous waters of the Susquehanna with their shallow draft triremes, they encountered a mix of reactions from the indigenous tribes inhabiting the region. While some groups engaged in friendly interactions and trade with the newcomers, others harbored a sense of fear and awe at the sight of these imposing vessels.
Among these tribes were the Shenks Ferry People, who etched their impressions onto the rocks in the form of petroglyphs. In one intricate carving, the Shenks Ferry People depicted the sighting of a Phoenician trireme ship, capturing the essence of their amazement and trepidation in the face of these foreign seafaring vessels. The petroglyph at Big Indian Rock serves as a historical record, preserving the memory of a pivotal moment when these ancient cultures collided along the banks of the Susquehanna River.
Their progress, however, came to an unexpected halt at what is today known as the Conewago Falls. Here, before the building of an 18th-century canal and a 20th-century hydroelectric dam, the river once fell 19 feet in a span of 1,320 feet. Undeterred, the Phoenicians decided to establish a settlement in the region surrounding the falls. They named it Havenbrook, a sanctuary from the storms of war that had driven them across the seas.
The Phoenicians, skilled in the arts of trade and diplomacy, forged alliances with the native tribes. They shared knowledge, exchanged goods, and lived harmoniously alongside one another…for a time. The Phoenicians soon realized that the local population held little value for the treasures they had brought from Carthage.
In an effort to preserve their riches for future generations, the Phoenicians made a decision. They carefully concealed their treasures, including the coveted Golden Osprey, deep within the dense forests for what would one day be known as Penn’s Woods. Their timing seemed prophetic, as a neighboring tribe soon attacked, killing all of the Phoenicians. The indigenous populations, uninterested in this type of material wealth, remained unaware of the hidden hoard.
Generations unfolded, and the memory of the Phoenicians who sought refuge in the Susquehanna Valley became intertwined with the stories told by the indigenous peoples, possibly becoming the basis for the knowledge-bearing, bearded god Quetzalcoatl. The hidden Golden Osprey treasure of the Phoenicians and their settlement along the Susquehanna became legend. Legend became myth. And for over two thousand years, it nearly passed out of all knowledge.
The mystery of the Phoenician presence along the Susquehanna River found an unexpected resurgence in the 20th century, thanks to the discoveries of two dedicated individuals: Philip Beistline, a school teacher from Mechanicsburg, and the physical scientist Dr. William W. Strong. Independent of each other, these two enthusiasts embarked on a quest that would breathe new life into the ancient tale.
During the 1940s, Beistline and Strong uncovered a trove of flat stones adorned with enigmatic markings scattered across Cumberland and York Counties. Intrigued by their findings, they sought validation from the academic community. Some of the stones were sent to Cornell University, where archaeologists confirmed the presence of ancient Phoenician symbols, adding a layer of authenticity to the historical narrative.
Additional information came in 1961 when authors Charles Michael Boland and Frederick J. Pohl each published a book a few weeks apart highlighting the Phoenicians rowing their boats up the Susquehanna 2,000 years before Columbus “discovered” America. Regional newspapers, like this November 19, 1961, LNP article from The Sunday News, picked up the story, telling the fantastic tale.
The mainstream academic community shunned the thesis as it fell outside the accepted historical narrative. Soon, the general population forgot the fantastic theory as the Cold War and Space Race heated up.
The plot recently thickened when a diary belonging to Dr. Strong resurfaced, offering a unique glimpse into his clandestine expeditions. In its sometimes encoded pages, Strong chronicled his exploration in and around Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, providing tantalizing details about Phoenician activity in the region. Driven by the conviction that a hidden treasure, including the elusive Golden Osprey statue, awaited discovery, Strong’s diary hinted at a quest of legendary proportions.
The rediscovery of Dr. Strong’s findings has reignited interest in the ancient tale. Historians, archaeologists, and treasure hunters alike are turning their attention to the coded diary, attempting to decipher its secrets and unlock the whereabouts of the hidden riches. Secure your copy of Dr. Strong’s diary today in the JBT and Raiders of the Golden Osprey Adventure.
JBT and Raiders of the Golden Osprey
Are you ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? The annual Uncharted Lancaster treasure hunt returns on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in the JBT and Raiders of the Golden Osprey Adventure. This exciting five-week expedition has $3,250 up for grabs, weekly cash prizes, and multiple ways to win in what promises to be my most thrilling treasure hunt yet! Click here to read more.
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Resources
- The Discovery of America – A History of Conflicting Theories
- They All Discovered America by Charles Michael Boland
- Atlantic Crossings Before Columbus by Frederick J. Pohl
- Sunday News 19 Nov 1961, Sun ·Page 15
- ‘Magic sponge’ reveals thunderbirds on Susquehanna rocks
- The Susquehanna Stones – An Enduring Enigma
- Pennsylvania Profiles
Disclaimer
This story is 100 percent true...except for the parts that are totally made up.