The Brandenburg Stone and the Prince Madoc Legend: Unraveling Ancient Mysteries in Southern Indiana

In 1912, farmer Craig Cresselius stumbled upon a large limestone slab on his property near Brandenburg, Kentucky.

The stone was etched with strange markings that baffled locals for decades.

It wasn’t until British researchers in the late 20th century claimed the inscriptions were ancient Welsh writing linked to Prince Madoc—a 12th-century nobleman said to have sailed from Wales to America in 1170.

If true, this would rewrite history, proving Europeans reached the New World long before Columbus.

Skeptics argue the markings are natural weathering or outright fakes, but the Brandenburg Stone is only one piece of a larger puzzle.

Across southern Indiana and Kentucky, evidence hints at early European presence: ancient castle ruins on Rose Island, Roman coins found on both sides of the Ohio River, and Native American legends of “White Indians” with blue eyes and fair skin inhabiting the region.

Some tribes even spoke words resembling ancient Welsh.

Rose Island, a peninsula along the Ohio River, once hosted towering limestone walls—possibly remnants of a castle—surveyed in the 19th century by Indiana geologists.

These walls, up to 75 feet tall, were quarried and shaped, suggesting advanced construction unknown to prehistoric Native Americans.

Sadly, much of the stone was later repurposed for local buildings, and the original structures vanished.

Other remarkable finds include six ancient skeletons near Jeffersonville, Indiana, buried with copper breastplates bearing the Welsh coat of arms and Latin inscriptions.

Similar armor was reportedly discovered at Battle Creek, where violent clashes likely took place.

The presence of European-style armor and artifacts challenges conventional timelines of settlement in the region.

Historical figures such as General George Rogers Clark documented encounters with “White Indians” on Sand Island in the Ohio River—tall, fair-haired people disliked by neighboring tribes and ultimately wiped out in battle.

Skeletal remains found there were reportedly non-Native in origin, though much evidence has since been lost or destroyed by floods and development.

The Mandan tribe, encountered by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s, also displayed European features and customs.

Their circular boats resembled ancient Welsh coracles, and their language contained similarities to Welsh words.

These observations fueled speculation that they descended from Madoc’s followers.

Despite tantalizing clues, many artifacts—Roman coins, armor pieces, and important journals—have mysteriously disappeared from museum collections and archives over the years.

Some suggest deliberate suppression of evidence that could challenge mainstream historical narratives.

The Brandenburg Stone itself remains a subject of controversy.

British researchers translated its inscriptions using “Coelbren,” a purported ancient Welsh script developed in the 18th century by Edward Williams, founder of a Welsh secret society.

While some consider Coelbren a fabricated language, others believe it preserves genuine ancient knowledge.

The stone’s message—“towards strength divide the land we are spread over purely between Offspring and wisdom”—evokes themes of settlement and governance.

Today, the Brandenburg Stone and Roman coins are displayed in the Meade County Museum, inviting visitors to ponder the mysteries of early transatlantic contact.

Nearby, Rose Island’s ruins and the surrounding Ohio River valley continue to inspire legends of lost civilizations and forgotten explorers.

Whether Prince Madoc truly reached America remains unproven, but the convergence of archaeological finds, Native American oral histories, and enigmatic artifacts suggests the past may hold secrets yet to be fully uncovered.

The story of the Brandenburg Stone challenges us to reconsider accepted histories and remain open to new possibilities.