16th Century Christian Symbols Discovered in Caribbean Cave
Archaeologists have discovered 16th-century Christian symbols left by explorers alongside ancient indigenous art in the Caribbean, shedding new light on early religious dialogue between Europeans and Native Americans.
According to a report from the University of Leicester, a team led by the school and the British Museum discovered Latin inscriptions and Christograms next to spiritual iconography left by indigenous peoples in a cave deep inside the remote island of Mona.
"It is truly extraordinary," said Jago Cooper, the British Museum curator who, with the University of Leicester's Alice Sampson, led the research team. "It is proof that the first generation of Europeans were going into caves and being exposed to an indigenous worldview. I can't think of another site like this in the Americas."...