(Original headline: Rock City site of ancient temple, map expert says )
Troy Thomas Dickerson has devoted the last few years of his life to the study of ancient maps and says his journeys across the country have led him to some amazing discoveries — discoveries that would rock the world if they could be proven.
Dickerson has been studying maps since 1978. His interest in maps began when he attended map defense school in Washington, D.C., where he was stationed with the Army National Guard.
He says he has enjoyed researching old maps and returned home to the Lakewood Park community to further his research.
He challenges everyone he meets to tell him whether they know anything that hasn’t been revealed to them by man. He says most people can’t, but claims the secrets of man have been revealed to him, and him only. However, he says its difficult to get anyone to take his claims seriously, because they do not “line up” with conventional wisdom.
His most controversial claim is that Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga was once the kingdom of Israel’s third king, Solomon, who was highly regarded for his wisdom.
“This is the region of Solomon’s reign,” Dickerson says, adding that the king’s temple is atop the mountain at Ruby Falls.
His quest began when he learned of the controversial Piri Reis map that was drawn on gazelle skin. The map was found in 1929 by group of historians and authenticated by map experts.
An online report says that “Research showed that it was a genuine document drawn in 1513 by Piri Reis, a famous admiral of the Turkish Fleet in the 16th Century. His passion was cartography. His high rank within the Turkish Navy allowed him to have a privileged access to the Imperial Library of Constantinople.”
The article continues, “The Turkish admiral admits in a series of notes on the map that he compiled and copied the data from a large number of source maps, some of which dated back to the fourth century BC or earlier.”
The map shows the western coast of Africa, the eastern coast of South America and the northern coast of Antarctica in an ice-free state.
“The northern coastline of Antarctica is perfectly detailed,” the report says. “The most puzzling however, is not so much how Piri Reis managed to draw such an accurate map of the Antarctic region 300 years before it was discovered, but the map shows the coastline under the ice.
“Geological evidence confirms that the latest date Queen Maud Land could have been charted in an ice-free state is 4000 B.C.” And that’s where the controversy comes in.
Dickerson says the configurations and markings on this ancient map exactly match the carvings on the eastern face of Rock City and many other artifacts and rock structures he has discovered across the country.
They are all “keys” pointing to one place, he says — the kingdom of Solomon, which he claims, will one day be resurrected as the New Jerusalem mentioned in the Book of Revelation contained in the Bible.
Dickerson says he has found several other rock formations and fossils with the same patterns and markings that are shown on the ancient Piri Reis map and claims he can prove his findings are genuine.
“We have found a lot of ancient maps over the years that have led us to ancient temples, as well as finding overwhelming artifacts that date back thousands of years before Christ.
Dickerson says he and his witness and assistant, Sarah, a Coffee County native, have found answers to questions that have evaded man.
Dickerson says one of the maps he has studied is of a temple in Utah.
“The map, in details, leads us across America right to the Lord’s holy mountain, as well as making a picture of what it looks like,” he says.
“All my research and ancient maps are pointing to this mountain.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Within the next few weeks, Dickerson will attempt to explain his findings in a series of reports. Correspondence with Troy can be mailed to the Manchester Times, 300 N. Spring St., Manchester, TN to his attention.)
